In the early hours of August 3, 2021, a dispute inside a north Minneapolis home on the 2300 block of Dupont Avenue North turned deadly. Boris Lusambo Likuwa, a 21-year-old Black male, was shot and killed. The incident began with a confrontation that tragically escalated, ending a young life and setting in motion a complex and ultimately unresolved investigation. Responding officers found Likuwa without a pulse, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at 12:28 AM. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner later confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound and ruled it a homicide.
The investigation into Likuwa's death led Minneapolis police to a suspect, 21-year-old Mozell Jones. According to a witness who was in the home at the time, Jones believed that Likuwa had stolen from him while he was incarcerated. This witness, who was a friend and roommate of Likuwa, told investigators he heard Jones and Likuwa talking, followed by the sound of a single gunshot. The witness then saw Jones fleeing the house and leaving in a vehicle. He went downstairs to find Likuwa on the floor and immediately called 911. Based on this witness testimony, Jones was arrested on August 19, 2021, and subsequently charged with second-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm.
The legal proceedings against Mozell Jones took an unexpected turn, leading to a frustrating conclusion for those seeking justice for Boris Likuwa. In a significant development, the key witness for the prosecution died before he could testify in court. Without this crucial testimony, the state's case against Jones was severely weakened. As a result, in March 2022, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office made the difficult decision to drop all charges against Mozell Jones. Prosecutors stated that without the witness, they could no longer prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The death of the witness was reportedly unrelated to the murder case. To date, no one has been held legally responsible for the death of Boris Lusambo Likuwa. The case remains a painful and unresolved chapter for his family and the Minneapolis community.
