Albert Dwayne Stevens, a 29-year-old Black man from Saint Paul, Minnesota, was known as a protector who made people feel safe. Described by loved ones as a great father who was loved by all, he worked as a cook, security, and bar back at local establishments, including Billy’s on Grand.
In the early morning hours of September 27, 2020, an argument broke out after bar close on Grand Avenue.
At around 3:25 a.m., Albert was outside Billy’s on Grand when someone in a passing silver Pontiac reportedly yelled something that upset him. Witnesses told police that Albert got into a verbal argument with the car's occupants and showed them a handgun. The car drove off, made a U-turn, and came back. As the other man with Albert tried to get him to walk away, Albert approached the open driver's side window of the Pontiac to continue the argument.
Shots were then fired from the car. Albert was struck at point-blank range by a bullet that pierced his lungs and heart. He fell in the middle of the street and was pronounced dead at the scene. The 29-year-old man who had been with him was also shot, suffering a serious wound to his thigh that severed an artery and required surgery. The silver Pontiac fled the scene after the shooting.
Responding Saint Paul Police Department officers began an investigation. A witness at the scene identified the driver of the Pontiac as Demond Adante Dawson, a 23-year-old from Roseville. Police arrested Dawson, who confirmed he had been there but declined to discuss the incident. He was subsequently charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
In September 2021, the case against Demond Dawson went to trial in Ramsey County. On the first day, a judge dismissed one of the second-degree murder charges. After deliberating for approximately six hours, the jury acquitted Dawson of all remaining charges. The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office later stated that a key witness had failed to appear to testify, which made critical elements of the case difficult to prove.
Following the acquittal in September 2021, the homicide of Albert Dwayne Stevens remains unsolved.
