In the early hours of January 7, 2017, the vibrant nightlife of downtown Minneapolis was shattered by gunfire. Walter Nathaniel Haynes, a 30-year-old Black male, was shot and critically injured in the altercation. The incident took place just after 2 a.m. near the bustling intersection of 3rd Street and 1st Avenue North. Haynes was rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center, but he succumbed to his injuries two days later, on January 9, 2017.
Friends of Haynes stated that the incident
began as a fight inside a club that spilled out onto the street. In an attempt to de-escalate the situation and act as a peacemaker, Haynes was caught in the ensuing violence. Two other individuals, a man and a woman, were also shot during the incident but survived their injuries. The shooting was one of two separate fatal shootings that occurred in downtown Minneapolis that weekend, raising concerns about gun violence in the area.
Despite investigations by the Minneapolis police, who interviewed witnesses and sought surveillance footage from nearby businesses, no arrests have been made in connection with Haynes's death. The case remains unsolved, leaving a void for his family and friends who remembered him as a joyful and caring person. Known affectionately as "Big Walt," Haynes had been a standout basketball player at Johnson High School in St. Paul, where he was remembered for his toughness, brash personality, and being full of life. His death was a tragic end for a man who was once a celebrated local athlete and was remembered by those who knew him as a good and dynamic person.
