In the early hours of a Monday morning in Minneapolis, the life of 48-year-old Willie Tounzell Smith, a Black male, was tragically cut short. On May 17, 2021, at approximately 1:20 a.m., events unfolded near the intersection of Elliot and Franklin avenues in the Ventura Village neighborhood that would leave one man dead and a woman in critical condition.
Residents in the area were disturbed by the sounds of a woman screaming, prompting calls to 911.
Responding Minneapolis police officers discovered a woman just south of the intersection with significant injuries. Initially, it was unclear how she had been harmed, as she did not appear to have been shot. She was quickly transported to a hospital for medical attention. Investigators began to piece together the chaotic scene, suggesting a grim sequence of events had transpired.
According to the preliminary investigation, two vehicles were traveling westbound on Franklin Avenue when one of them struck the woman. The vehicles continued their course for a short distance past Elliot Avenue. In a sudden and violent turn, one of the vehicles executed a U-turn in the middle of the street. It was at this point that someone from within the vehicle opened fire, fatally wounding Willie Tounzell Smith, who was walking nearby.
After the shooting, the suspect's vehicle fled the scene, heading south on Elliot Avenue. The shooting marked the 27th homicide in Minneapolis that year. At the time of the initial reports, no arrests had been made in connection with the shooting. The investigation into the death of Willie Tounzell Smith was reported as ongoing, with authorities appealing to the public for any information that might lead to the apprehension of the person or persons responsible. There have been no subsequent reports of any suspects being identified or taken into custody.
