Tyesha Lynn Edwards, an 11-year-old Black female, was at her family's home in South Minneapolis on November 22, 2002. Engaged in her homework at the dining room table, her life was cut short in an instant. A stray bullet from a gang-related shooting penetrated the walls of her home and struck her. Tyesha was not the intended target of the violence that erupted outside, a tragic victim of a conflict she had no part in.
The shooting was the result of a dispute between rival gangs.
Three men, identified as members of a gang, were reportedly targeting a rival gang member in the vicinity of Tyesha's home. After spotting their intended target, they armed themselves and returned to the neighborhood. Two of the men, Myon Burrell and Isaiah Tyson, allegedly exited their vehicle and ran between houses, with Burrell firing a gun at the intended victim. One of those bullets found its way into the Edwards' home, fatally wounding the young girl.
In the wake of the senseless tragedy, the Minneapolis police launched an intensive investigation. Their efforts led to the arrests of three suspects: Myon Burrell, who was 16 at the time, Hans Williams, and Isaiah Tyson. All three were charged with first-degree murder. The Hennepin County Attorney's office pursued the charges, arguing that even though Tyesha was not the intended victim, the intent to kill followed the bullet under Minnesota law.
The legal proceedings that followed were complex and have been the subject of scrutiny over the years. Myon Burrell was convicted of Tyesha's murder and sentenced to life in prison. He maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration. Years later, investigations by journalists and a legal panel raised questions about the police investigation and the evidence used to convict him, leading to the commutation of his sentence in 2020 after he had served 18 years. Despite his release, the quest for justice for Tyesha Lynn Edwards has left a lasting and painful legacy for her family and the community.
