On a Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis, a day typically reserved for quiet reflection before the start of a new week, the life of 29-year-old Victor Vic Pablo, a Black / African American male, was violently cut short. It was February 21, 2021, when gunfire erupted on Lowry Avenue Northeast. Pablo was driving his minivan westbound when he was struck by several bullets.
The vehicle, now without a driver in control, made a U-turn before crashing into a light pole near the intersection of Grand Street Northeast.
When police officers arrived at the scene just before 3 p.m., they found Pablo slumped over inside the minivan in grave condition. He was rushed to the Hennepin County Medical Center, but the multiple gunshot wounds to his upper neck, torso, and arm proved to be fatal. He was pronounced dead in the emergency room at 3:42 p.m., less than an hour after the shooting. Initially, investigators were uncertain if the shooting was a random act of violence, and no immediate arrests were made, leaving a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the tragic event.
The investigation into Victor Pablo's death did not stay cold for long. In a significant development, two individuals were arrested and charged in connection with his murder. The suspects were identified as Gregory D. Starr-Taylor, who was 31 at the time, and Pablo's own girlfriend, 28-year-old Tashawn A. Thomas. The investigation revealed a conspiracy between the two to cause harm to Pablo, though Thomas would later claim she did not believe Starr-Taylor would actually kill him.
Subsequent legal proceedings brought the details of the plot to light. Prosecutors presented evidence of phone and text messages between Thomas and Starr-Taylor, outlining their plan. The motive behind the deadly conspiracy appeared to stem from a domestic dispute. Thomas informed police that she was upset with Pablo for repeatedly taking her minivan and that they had been arguing over a small sum of money and "some females." In the end, Gregory D. Starr-Taylor, the alleged shooter, was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for his role in the murder. Tashawn A. Thomas pleaded guilty to aiding an offender and was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison.
