Minneapolis shooting victim, suspect were friends from childhood

Article by: MATT MCKINNEY , Star Tribune
Updated: March 15, 2012 - 3:29 PM

Members of both families attended funeral.

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The suspect in Saturday's shooting death of Jason Youngmark was a childhood friend who had remained close through the years and who has since called Youngmark's family to apologize, according to relatives. The alleged shooter's family attended Youngmark's funeral on Tuesday, said Jerome Youngmark, Jason's older brother.

"It was a beautiful day, with the most beautiful family and friends," he said. "Our family has communicated with [the alleged shooter's] family, and it's been an exchange of love and peace."

"I want [the alleged shooter] to turn himself in," he said. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt over this."

Details about the 10:20 p.m. shooting at a house in the 2600 block of Emerson Avenue N. were still not available Wednesday. A friend of Youngmark's who spoke with police said initially that it wasn't clear whether the shooting was accidental or intentional.

Jerome Youngmark declined to talk about things he's heard, citing the ongoing police investigation.

"I spoke with people who were there when it happened," Youngmark said. "Everybody involved will have to be accountable for their part of it."

Youngmark said the family has rallied around his brother's widow, Stacy Davies. The couple had seven children, ages 1 to 10, three of them autistic. Youngmark also had a stepson, 12.

"We have a large family and today my brother said, 'We're not just going to get through this, we're going to thrive.' That's what we're working with here," Youngmark said.

MAD DADS has organized a candlelight vigil in Youngmark's memory for 3 p.m. Saturday at 26th and Emerson Avenues N.

A local nonprofit organization, Building Blocks, set up a link on its website, www.thebuildingblocks .org, to collect donations for Youngmark's wife and children.

Matt McKinney • 612-217-1747