Connect with us

Minneapolis, MN

Parents of murdered Minneapolis man call decision to drop charges a

Published

on

Parents of murdered Minneapolis man call decision to drop charges a


MINNEAPOLIS — The parents of a Minneapolis shooting victim say releasing the man charged with their son’s murder is a slap in the face.

Laleta and Derek McClendon say they feel betrayed by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

Deveall McClendon was killed last year near the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

“I’m hurt,” Derek said. “My baby is gone. [Laleta’s] child is gone.”

Advertisement

Police say McClendon was shot six times while driving, with the bullets coming from another vehicle.

A man was charged with the murder, and the McClendons say they were given the impression there was strong evidence against him.

MORE NEWS: Man found shot dead in south Minneapolis, police find gun nearby

The charges were dropped last month though, and the suspect walked free.

“It’s devastating,” Laleta said. “It’s crushing.”

Advertisement
murder-charges-dropped-wcco5633-00-01-0113.jpg

Laleta McClendon


In charging documents, prosecutors said the suspect’s Snapchat location “moved identically with the [shooter’s car’s] travels…as is seen on surveillance video.”

But the defense claimed Snapchat data showed the closest he ever got was half a mile away.

Prosecutors also say there’s video of the suspect holding the murder weapon.

Advertisement

His lawyers argued the video doesn’t connect him to the McClendon shooting, and they say on top of that, his DNA wasn’t found in the shooter’s car either.

Prosecutors eventually dropped the charges because of “insufficient evidence…to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.”

McClendon’s parents believe strongly he wasn’t involved in anything that would’ve led to him being targeted, and the shooting was random.

“Deveall wasn’t that type of clubbing person,” Laleta said. “Didn’t do drugs, didn’t party, didn’t smoke.”

Derek says Deveall “wasn’t that kid that was going to give you problems.”

Advertisement

They feel more needs to be done with their son’s case.

“I’m not just going to fold and allow this to be brushed off like this,” Laleta said. “Something has to be done. Somebody did it.”

READ MORE: Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara says department would “know zero” about automatic gunfire without ShotSpotter

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office responded to this story with a statement that said, “Mr. McClendon’s family is experiencing unimaginable pain and we are deeply sorry for their loss. We have had close contact with them throughout this process and will continue to as the investigation into this senseless tragedy continues. We continue to work with MPD to build sufficient evidence to hold anyone involved in this murder accountable for their actions.”

WCCO reached out to the Minneapolis Police Department asking for an update on the investigation but didn’t immediately hear back.

Advertisement



Source link

Advertisement

Minneapolis, MN

Man suffers serious injuries in Minneapolis stabbing; police investigating

Published

on

Man suffers serious injuries in Minneapolis stabbing; police investigating



Minneapolis police are investigating after they say a man suffered “potentially life-threatening injuries” in a stabbing on Thursday morning.

It happened around 4:45 a.m. near Franklin Avenue East and Chicago Avenue. Officers were called there after reports of a bleeding man boarding a Metro Transit bus. 

The man was taken to the hospital after receiving medical help from the officers.

Advertisement

According to police, the stabbing did not happen on the bus.

Investigators are looking into what led to the shooting, and say there’s a “possibility that it occurred during an attempted robbery.”

As of Thursday afternoon, no one has been arrested. 



Source link

Continue Reading

Minneapolis, MN

Hundreds of first responders treated to free holiday dinner from NE Minneapolis businesses

Published

on

Hundreds of first responders treated to free holiday dinner from NE Minneapolis businesses


Protecting and serving Minneapolis came with a generous lunch break today, all of it thanks to volunteers and donors.

The 42nd Annual First Responders Dinner was held at the Northeast Moose Bar and Grill. Several restaurants from the neighborhood dropped off trays of food, while local bakeries made sure there was plenty of dessert.

From noon until 10 p.m., police officers, firefighters, EMTs and others serving the community stopped in for a well-deserved meal.

Sukhdeep Singh, owner of Curry Corner, was excited that his restaurant was asked to help provide food this year.

Advertisement

“I made sure that we are going to have more than what we need so we don’t run out,” he said. “(First responders) are the backbone of our city. Every time we get an opportunity, we want to be there to make sure that we are always giving back.”

His restaurant is one of several contributing to the annual Christmas Eve dinner at the Moose Bar and Grill.

Aileen Johnson is one of the organizers of the dinner. She said the dozens of volunteers live nearby. The restaurants and bakeries are all from the Northeast.

Johnson says it’s the neighborhood’s way of saying thank you.

“I think it really captures the spirit of the holiday to do for others and to think of others,” she said. 

Advertisement

Watching police officers crack jokes and relax hits close to home for her.

“My late husband, Charlie Herzog, was an officer in the 5th Precinct and he worked many a Christmas Eve. And it was always a wonderful thing to know that he was getting a good hot meal, and not just a good hot meal, but a celebratory meal,” she said.

Hundreds of first responders were expected to attend. 

Volunteers also delivered hundreds of meals to those who couldn’t make the trip, like 911 dispatchers, corrections officers, paramedics at nearby hospitals and Metro Transit.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Minneapolis, MN

The Jason Show: Dec. 24, 2025

Published

on

The Jason Show: Dec. 24, 2025


Merry Christmas Eve! Jason, Falen, executive producer Jeff and producer Bjorn share their holiday traditions. Plus, a look back at a decade of The Jason Show. An intern at our station, Jackson, put together a great documentary about the show.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending