In the early morning hours of July 30, 2019, the quiet of Lakeview Knolls Park in Maple Grove, Minnesota, was broken by a grim discovery. A person walking through the park happened upon the body of 26-year-old Dayton Leonard Carter, a White/Caucasian male from Minneapolis. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner would later confirm that Carter had died from multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.
Investigators quickly began to piece together the events leading to the tragedy, suggesting that the motive was likely connected to drug-related criminal activity.
As the investigation unfolded, Maple Grove police identified two persons of interest and sought the public's help in locating them. The suspects were identified as 20-year-old Adrick J. Hare of Maple Grove and 18-year-old Arianna S. Sylvester of Zimmerman. They were located and arrested during a traffic stop in Big Lake. However, despite the initial arrests, both Hare and Sylvester were later released from custody without being charged. Authorities stated that the investigation was still active and that they were not seeking any other suspects at that time, though Hare and Sylvester remained persons of interest.
Years later, the case of Dayton Leonard Carter's murder remains unsolved, leaving his family with unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss. In an effort to bring new leads to light, Carter's family announced a $20,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for his death. His mother described him as an outgoing and energetic young man who made friends easily. Investigators have since revealed that they believe a third person was present at the park on the morning of the shooting and hope that the reward will encourage someone with knowledge of the events to come forward. The family continues to seek justice and closure for the senseless killing of their only child.
