In the late summer evening of August 30, 2016, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the life of 26-year-old Kin Reynolds Jr., a Black / African American male, was tragically cut short. The incident unfolded in the city's Frogtown neighborhood, near the intersection of Edmund Avenue and Grotto Street, shortly after 9:30 p.m. Residents in the area were startled by the sound of approximately ten gunshots ringing out in rapid succession.
St. Paul police officers who were nearby and heard the gunfire rushed to the scene. There, they discovered a harrowing sight: three men suffering from gunshot wounds. One of these men was Kin Reynolds Jr., who was found with fatal injuries. The two other victims, whose identities were not publicly released, were transported to a local hospital for treatment and were expected to survive their injuries.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing Reynolds leaving a local liquor store, Willard's Liquors, by himself just moments before the shooting occurred. Investigators quickly determined that the shooting was not a random act of violence, suggesting that Reynolds or the group he was with may have been targeted. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was called in to assist with the investigation, with a K9 unit searching the area for any evidence, such as shell casings or discarded weapons.
Despite the presence of multiple witnesses and the immediate response from law enforcement, no suspects were immediately identified or taken into custody. The family of Kin Reynolds Jr. was left to grapple with their sudden and violent loss, pleading for peace and for answers that were not immediately forthcoming. A local resident described Reynolds as a "cool, laid-back individual," adding to the sense of shock and loss within the community. As of the latest available information, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Kin Reynolds Jr., and the case remains an open investigation.
