On a Monday afternoon, September 9, 2019, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, 18-year-old Raumez Ross, a Black / African American male, was walking on a busy street in the city's North End. It was around 4:30 p.m. near the intersection of Rice Street and Winnipeg Avenue West when gunfire erupted. Ross was struck by bullets fired from across the street. Despite being wounded, he managed to make his way into the nearby Winnipeg Grocery store, where he collapsed on the floor.
Multiple 911 calls
reported the shooting, and police officers arrived to find Ross inside the corner store with apparent gunshot wounds. Paramedics and officers attempted life-saving measures, but Ross succumbed to his injuries and died at the scene. Investigators determined the shooting was not random and began interviewing potential witnesses, as it was reported that about 30 people were in the area at the time of the incident. Ross, known as "Mezzy" to his loved ones, was remembered for his smile and spirit. His death was one of three homicides to occur in Saint Paul within a nine-hour span.
The investigation led to the arrest of a 15-year-old male suspect. This individual was charged with second-degree murder in connection with Ross's death. He was also charged with two counts of assault, as two other people driving on Rice Street were in the line of fire during the shooting. Due to the suspect's age, his identity was not publicly released at the time of the charges. The Ramsey County Attorney's Office filed a motion to have the teenager prosecuted as an adult.
Later, the suspect was identified as Dimitri R. Herndon Jr., who was 16 at the time of his plea. He admitted in adult court that the shooting was the result of a gang rivalry, stating that he and Ross were "disrespecting each other's gang" before he opened fire. Herndon pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder. According to his account, he saw Ross reach for a gun, which prompted him to draw his own weapon and start shooting. A motorist who witnessed the event told police she heard two males yelling at each other across the street before the shooting began.
