In the warm evening of June 30, 2021, a gathering was held outside the Elks Lodge on North Plymouth Avenue in Minneapolis. Drew Ginley, a 36-year-old Black / African American man known as a beloved youth coach and mentor, was among those present for a vigil. The atmosphere of remembrance was shattered when a brief altercation broke out involving Ginley and several other men.
Surveillance footage from the scene captured the moments that followed: Ginley, after falling to the ground, rose with his hands in the air and began to walk away from the group.
As he tried to distance himself from the confrontation, a man approached him from behind and shot him multiple times at close range. Ginley died in the parking lot from multiple gunshot wounds. The sudden violence left the community, particularly the youth he had coached and mentored, heartbroken. He was remembered as a young father and a patient coach who made a significant impact on the lives of children he worked with.
Witnesses at the scene identified the shooter as Deandre Dontae Turner, a 40-year-old Minneapolis resident. One witness, who had known Turner for many years, confirmed seeing him shoot Ginley. Turner was seen fleeing the scene in a silver vehicle driven by another individual. Following an investigation, Turner was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
Deandre Turner's trial proceeded, and he was ultimately convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to over 27 years in prison. However, in a significant turn of events in November 2024, an appellate court overturned Turner's conviction. The court cited prosecutorial misconduct and evidentiary errors, noting the lack of forensic evidence linking Turner to the crime and the improper use of an out-of-court statement. The case garnered further attention due to its connection to an altercation Ginley had with a controversial former gang member just before the shooting. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office is currently reviewing the appellate court's decision to determine whether to appeal or retry the case.
