Assistant Police Chief Time Dolan said police have good leads on two of this week's Minneapolis homicides.
Police said they are investigating whether a man being held in an assault case in St. Paul is responsible for the death of Janaya Allen, 20, on Sunday in north Minneapolis. The woman, who lived in St. Paul, was pronounced dead after being driven to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale.
The city's second homicide happened about 6 p.m. Monday when a person got out of a car near 34th and Girard Avenues N. and shot Jesse J. Maynor III, 17, of Minneapolis, who was standing nearby, authorities said. Although a motive hasn't been determined, Stanek said police are investigating whether the homicide is related to the wounding of another teenager in a car earlier in the evening near 16th and Russell Avenues N.
Jesse J. Maynor Jr. said nothing seemed out of the ordinary when he last saw his son this past weekend.
"I just don't understand what happened," he said. Maynor said he doesn't know where his son was coming from or why anyone would target him.
Jesse J. Maynor III, the second of four children, was a senior in high school, his dad said. He recently began working in food service at Target Center.
"None of us are doing well," his dad said.
Minneapolis schools spokesman Josh Collins said Maynor was a student at North Community High School. Grief counselors will be available to students today and notes will be sent home with them about the death, Collins said.
