On November 17, 2016, a 26-year-old Black / African American male named Larry Flowers III was shot and killed in north Minneapolis. The incident, which stemmed from a botched robbery, unfolded near the intersection of West Broadway and Bryant Avenue N. just before 11 a.m. Flowers had moved from Chicago to Minnesota to better himself and was studying to receive a certification in carpentry.
The events leading to his death began when Quintel Flowers, 25, and his girlfriend, Nicole Rantala,
32, arranged to pick up Larry Flowers. Quintel Flowers was reportedly angry with Larry Flowers over a belief that he had been shorted in a marijuana deal the previous week and planned to rob him. While in a car near the strip mall, Quintel pulled out a handgun and demanded money and drugs from Larry. A struggle over the weapon ensued, during which Larry Flowers managed to escape the vehicle and run.
As Larry Flowers fled, Quintel Flowers pursued him on foot and fired multiple shots, striking him. Larry Flowers collapsed and died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. Witnesses reported seeing the struggle and the subsequent chase and shooting. Following the shooting, Rantala drove Quintel Flowers away from the area, and he reportedly threw the gun into a river, though police later recovered it from the trunk of a car. The two men were not related.
Later that day, Quintel Flowers and Nicole Rantala were arrested in Columbia Heights. Both were charged with intentional second-degree murder. Rantala eventually pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree murder and agreed to testify against Quintel Flowers. Facing a first-degree murder trial, Quintel Flowers pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to more than 36 years in prison, while Rantala received a 15-year sentence for her role in the crime.
