In the early hours of Sunday, June 9, 2019, the life of 27-year-old Jamie Lee Bevins Jr., a male from the White Earth, Minnesota area, was tragically cut short by an act of gun violence. The incident unfolded at a residence northeast of Detroit Lakes, leaving a community in mourning and a family devastated.
Known affectionately as "Honker" to his friends and family, Jamie was remembered as a man with a love for music and a talent for wood burning and drawing.
He had a passion for the thrill of speed, whether it was on bikes, four-wheelers, or in cars, a joy evident by the broad smile that would spread across his face. A father to his daughter, Shaylin Bevins, and son, Brenton St. Clair, Jamie was also a cherished son, brother, and friend.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Becker County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation that quickly led them to identify a suspect: 18-year-old Ronald Wayne Elias Thompson III. A public alert was issued, warning that Thompson was considered potentially armed and dangerous, with existing felony warrants related to guns and parole violations. A manhunt ensued as law enforcement officials urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.
The search for Thompson concluded with his arrest, and the legal process began. While the specific details of the events leading to the fatal confrontation remain limited in public accounts, the resolution in the criminal case came over a year later. On July 7, 2020, Ronald Wayne Elias Thompson III was sentenced for homicide, bringing a close to the investigation and the beginning of a long period of incarceration for the young man responsible for Jamie Bevins' death. He is currently incarcerated at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Moose Lake, with an anticipated release date in August of 2027.
