A North St. Paul man was sentenced Friday to 13½ years in prison for a gang-related murder that was St. Paul's first homicide of the year.
Rayshon T. Brooks, 20, pleaded guilty in April in Ramsey County District Court to crime committed for the benefit of a gang in the March 5 fatal shooting of John M. Broyles.
As part of his plea, one count each of crime committed for the benefit of a gang, second-degree murder with intent and second-degree murder without intent were dismissed.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Brooks: Broyles and his cousin were going to a party when a car pulled up. Someone in the car recognized Broyles' cousin, an alleged member of the Gutter Block gang.
Brooks, an alleged member of the opposing HAM Crazy gang, was driving the car. The two gangs had been "beefing" over a murder committed by HAM Crazy gang members a few years ago.
Broyles' cousin told police that Brooks pulled out a handgun and pointed it at them through the front windshield. Broyles and his cousin ran, and Brooks pursued them.
According to two witnesses and surveillance video, Broyles fired a gun at Brooks first, and Brooks returned fire.
