On the evening of July 19, 2019, the life of 16-year-old Quay Felton, a Black / African American male, was tragically cut short on a street in north Minneapolis. Around 5:30 p.m., near the intersection of Colfax Avenue North and 30th Avenue North, gunshots shattered the neighborhood quiet. Quay was found lying on the street, bleeding from a gunshot wound to his head. Emergency crews rushed him to North Memorial Medical Center, but he succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
His family shared that while he had some past gang involvement, he was actively trying to change his path and had recently started a new job. They had been worried for his safety, aware of threats made against him and trying to keep him indoors.
The investigation into Quay's death moved swiftly as Minneapolis police homicide detectives began to piece together the events of that evening. A crucial piece of evidence came from a dash camera on a vehicle parked nearby, which had recorded the entire incident. The footage showed two individuals on bicycles as the shooters. Witnesses at the scene, including a friend who was with Quay during the attack, were able to identify the assailants. One witness noted seeing one of the suspects reach into a fanny pack just before the shooting began. The suspects were identified as 20-year-old Andre Owens and 23-year-old Shannon Blackman.
Within a month, both suspects were in custody and charged. Andre Owens was arrested on August 15, 2019, and in a statement to police, he admitted to his role as one of the shooters. Both he and Shannon Blackman were charged with second-degree murder. In February 2020, Andre Owens pleaded guilty. At his sentencing, he addressed the court, stating, "I don't think what I've done is OK … I take full responsibility for my actions." He was subsequently sentenced to 31 years in prison for his part in the murder of Quay Felton. His co-defendant, Shannon Blackman, was scheduled for a court appearance in March 2020 to face his charges in connection with the fatal shooting.
