MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A high-profile murder conviction in Minneapolis has been overturned on appeal after a judge finds the suspect’s trial was unfair.

Drew McGinley was shot and killed in June 2021 outside the Elks Club in North Minneapolis after an unrelated vigil. Last week, an appellate court judge ruled that Deandre Turner, who was convicted of the killing and sentenced to 27 years, was deprived of a fair trial.

What was the ruling?

Appellate Judge Cochran overturned the conviction, citing evidentiary errors and prosecutorial misconduct. The decision noted that the state’s case was weak, with no forensic evidence presented—no gun, no DNA, and reliance on grainy surveillance footage. Additionally, the state improperly used an out-of-court statement where its sole witness identified the shooter at the suggestion of a police sergeant. In court, that witness denied knowing who fired the fatal shot.

Court documents say other prosecutorial errors included:

• Attorneys referring to witnesses who did not testify.
• Claiming Turner was “drunk and probably high” without proof
• Insinuating that Turner was in a gang without proof.

Context

McGinley was a respected community member who ran a T-shirt printing business and volunteered as a youth coach and mentor. He was killed after a confrontation with a former gang member.

McGinley’s death was devastating for the community.

Keith Cook, who played for McGinley, described him as a father figure, saying, “He was there for me, like for football, basketball, and my life, school.”

The case drew significant attention because it all started with an altercation between McGinley and Sharif Willis, a former gang leader turned peace activist. Willis spoke with FOX 9 during the trial, refusing to comment directly on the case, but saying: “We got to put some of these guns down, got to stop killing each other. It’s senseless, it’s useless, everybody’s a victim in this.”

What’s next?

Turner remains in prison for now.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has 30 days to appeal the appellate court’s decision or decide to re-try the case.

The office stated it is reviewing the case: “The Court of Appeals opinion is concerning, and we are in the process of reviewing the transcript before making a decision.”

A man died after he was shot outside a gas station late Monday morning in north Minneapolis, police say.

According to the Minneapolis Police Department, officers responded to a report of a shooting just before noon at the Full Stop gas station near the intersection of North Lowry and Logan avenues.

Emergency responders found a 23-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to North Memorial Health Hospital, where he died.

Investigators say “words were exchanged” between the victim and another man, who then drew a gun and fired it before running away.

The victim’s identity will be released at a later time.

Police say they haven’t made any arrests and are still working to learn what led up to the shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or leave a confidential tip online.

Transforming the Mississippi River waterfront, building a marquee ice skating rink, locking in a Michelin-starred restaurant, and “reinventing” the skyway system are just a handful of ways downtown Minneapolis could take shape over the next decade. 

It’s all part of the Minneapolis Downtown Council’s “2035 Plan” and laid out in its 131-page presentation, “Downtown by Design.”

“It’s a big plan. It’s a big vision. There are 52 projects that are laid out in it,” Ben Shardlow, chief of staff for the downtown council, said, adding, “It’s been a labor of love to get a big engagement process, to get a lot of voices to the table.”

The ideas and vision are focused around four “strategic priorities”:

• Neighborhood Cultivation 
• Foundational Safety 
• Hassle-Free Systems
• Irresistible Vibe

Shardlow says downtown Minneapolis is in an interesting position to make unique and bold changes as it adapts to life after the pandemic.

“I think we’re, we’re very heartened by the recovery and the reanimation that we’ve seen from downtown. But it’s clear also that downtowns need to change,” he said. 

Turning Nicollet Mall into a pedestrian-only area is also part of the plan. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey wrote in the presentation, sharing, “Nicollet Mall is the heart of our city, and its future reflects our shared vision of a vibrant, welcoming, and accessible downtown – a place where people gather, connect, and enjoy the best Minneapolis has to offer.”

Another goal is transforming millions of square feet of commercial space into residential space. And it’s not just projects on the mind, ensuring public safety will be a big part of the heart of the city’s future — key in that will be the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD).

“[In the] last few months, we’ve been involving community-based organizations more than they had been in the past,” Chief Brian O’Hara said about the MPD’s work downtown. 

Chief O’Hara said his main focus will be building up his taxed police force so that it can better respond when needed.  

“We are on pace to hire a lot of people next year,” Chief O’Hara said. “I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that we’ll probably hire about 200 people for sworn positions, at least 50 in January alone.”

While O’Hara said it will take some time for most of those people to become sworn officers, he expects dozens to be on the street before the end of next year. 

Also, even with the vision laid out for downtown’s future, the council says there’s much more work ahead before these ideas become reality, with more opportunities for people to share their ideas. 

“We’re all a big community. We all care about the future of downtown Minneapolis. Let’s bring our best ideas to the table and work together to get them done,” Shardlow said.