On the evening of October 14, 2015, a memorial gathering in the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota, turned into a scene of tragedy. Synika George James, a 37-year-old Black / African American man, was among those who had convened in an alley at Cypress Street and Reaney Avenue to honor the memory of Naressa "NuNu" Turner, a young woman who had been killed in the same location three years prior.
The vigil, intended to be a brief and solemn remembrance, was shattered by the sound of gunfire around 6 p.m.
Witnesses reported that a vehicle approached the gathering, and its occupants began firing into the crowd. In a final act of selflessness, Synika George James is said to have pushed children out of the path of the bullets, shielding them from harm. He was struck by the gunfire in the process. After the shooting, he was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. It is not believed that James was the intended target of the shooting; rather, it appeared to be an indiscriminate act of violence. At the scene, investigators found shell casings of two different types, indicating that more than one firearm may have been used in the attack.
Despite the presence of numerous witnesses at the vigil, the chaos of the event made it difficult to obtain clear descriptions of the shooter or shooters. In the aftermath of the shooting, the community mourned the loss of a man remembered for his large heart and protective nature. His family and friends, deeply saddened by his death, worked to raise funds for a reward through Crime Stoppers of Minnesota for any information that could lead to an arrest. However, no suspects were immediately identified in connection with the murder.
The investigation into the death of Synika George James has faced significant challenges. Despite appeals to the public for information and the offer of a reward, the case has remained unsolved. To date, there have been no arrests made, and no suspects have been publicly named in connection with his killing. The search for justice for Synika George James and his family continues.
