On the night of July 2, 2015, a dispute over a poker game tragically escalated, ending the life of 29-year-old Rayontra Raydell McCall. The male victim was at Willy's Bar in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, participating in a poker tournament with his uncle and cousin. An argument erupted when McCall's uncle accused another player, Chad Nicholas Nelson, of cheating.
Bar staff intervened to calm the initial verbal altercation, but the conflict was far from over.
The disagreement spilled out into the parking lot as the men were leaving. Words were exchanged again, and McCall's uncle reportedly asked Nelson for an apology. As the argument continued, Nelson got into his Jeep. McCall approached the vehicle and punched Nelson in the face while he was seated inside. In response, Nelson pulled out a firearm and fired multiple shots, striking McCall in the chest and hand before speeding away from the scene.
Emergency services were called to the parking lot around 12:41 a.m. McCall was rushed to Mercy Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead a short time later. A few hours after the shooting, the suspect, 44-year-old Chad Nicholas Nelson of Ramsey, was arrested. He was taken into custody after seeking medical attention at a VA Hospital. Nelson was subsequently charged with second-degree intentional murder and second-degree murder by drive-by shooting. His bail was set at $750,000. Anoka County Attorney Tony Palumbo commented on the senselessness of the violence, stating, "This was an angry incident that escalated to lethal violence. It is senseless that a life was lost because of a poker game."
