Tabyis Paskins, a 19-year-old Black / African American male, was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting on the morning of August 3, 2016, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Paskins and a friend were riding their bicycles north on Logan Avenue on their way to help Paskins's grandmother. As they passed a house near Hillside Avenue, a group of people outside called out to Paskins's friend.
The two ignored the group and continued on their way.
Shortly after, several individuals from the group got into a red Jeep and pursued the bicyclists. The vehicle caught up with them, and a passenger in the back seat, later identified as 17-year-old Marcel Tyrone Farr, leaned out of the window. Farr questioned Paskins's friend about his affiliation with a gang known as "the Pack." When the friend replied that he was no longer involved, Farr reportedly said, "That's good because I would've killed you." Despite this, as the two friends tried to pedal away, Farr opened fire. Paskins was struck by the gunfire but managed to ride his bike a short distance before collapsing. Construction workers who witnessed the event called 911, but Paskins died from his injuries later that morning. It was later stated by the county attorney that Paskins was not the intended target.
Following the shooting, Paskins's friend directed police to the house where the group had come from. Officers found the red Jeep parked outside and were given permission to enter the home, where they found Farr and several other juveniles. Farr admitted to firing a gun multiple times. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office moved to have Farr tried as an adult due to the severity of the crime. In January 2018, Marcel Farr, then 19, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and second-degree assault. He was sentenced to a 30-year term, with the expectation of serving nearly 19 years in prison.
