Nicholas Bennett Tousley, aged 30, was tragically killed on March 22, 2016, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Tousley, along with Dominque Charles Moss, aged 23, was found fatally shot near the Midway Motel on Snelling Avenue. Both men succumbed to gunshot wounds to the back. The incident was linked to a drug dispute, with Tousley identified as a methamphetamine supplier.
Three men were charged in connection with the murders. Cass Cordel Oneal, aged 32, was identified as the shooter.
Oneal, along with Ronald L. Conway and Eric John Benner, both aged 31, were involved in the crime. Conway was described as a dealer, while Benner acted as the getaway driver.
Oneal was sentenced to over 28 years in prison, with credit for time served since his arrest. He will spend approximately 18⅓ years in prison and the remainder on supervised release. Conway received a 40-year sentence, serving the first 26-plus years in prison and the rest on supervised release. Benner, who also pleaded guilty, was scheduled for sentencing in January.
The convictions brought some closure to the tragic event, highlighting the severe consequences of drug-related violence in the community.
