On the evening of May 1, 2020, a dispute over a spot in line at an Arco gas station on East Maryland Avenue in Saint Paul, Minnesota, escalated into a fatal encounter for 28-year-old Darius Kevon Van, a Black/African American male. The night took a tragic turn when a simple disagreement with another man, identified as 22-year-old Ts'John Thomas Reed, quickly spiraled out of control.
According to accounts from witnesses and surveillance footage, the argument began when Van, who had briefly stepped out of line, returned to reclaim his position ahead of Reed. This seemingly minor incident ignited a verbal confrontation that grew increasingly heated. The two men began to shove each other, and the situation intensified dramatically when Reed produced a handgun. He was heard threatening Van, making chilling statements about the effectiveness of his bullets and his willingness to face a lengthy prison sentence.
Despite the brandished weapon, Van, who was reportedly larger than Reed, challenged him to a physical fight outside the gas station. As the tense scene unfolded inside the store, a woman attempted to intervene and de-escalate the conflict by holding Reed back. However, Van continued to advance towards him. At this point, Reed, who was then holding guns in both hands, fired two shots, striking Van in the torso. Darius Kevon Van collapsed to the floor and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Ts'John Thomas Reed fled the gas station but later contacted the police to turn himself in. He was arrested and subsequently charged in connection with Van's death. During his interview with authorities, Reed claimed that he acted in self-defense, stating he was afraid that Van would overpower him and use his own gun against him. He admitted to police that he "lost control" of the situation and could have chosen to de-escalate but did not. Authorities confirmed that Reed had a permit to carry a firearm.
