Minneapolis, MN
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.”
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.”
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.
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.”
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.
The scene of the crash at 26th Avenue North and Emerson Avenue North in Minneapolis. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Minneapolis woman was sentenced for her role in a deadly crash that killed two women and injured two other people in December 2024.
READ MORE: Minneapolis woman charged in fatal high-speed crash faces additional charges
Woman sentenced in fatal Minneapolis crash
Big picture view:
Prosecutors say Teniki Steward drove a Buick Enclave into a bus shelter and a Ford Explorer after speeding through a red light.
Both of the women in the Ford Explorer died in the crash. They were identified as 53-year-old Ester Jean Fulks and 57-year-old Rose Elaine Reece.
During the crash, the Ford Explorer went off the road, injuring a 17-year-old boy who was waiting for a school bus.
The passenger in Steward’s vehicle also suffered injuries.
Minneapolis police said that Steward was also injured in the crash.
Steward pleaded guilty to multiple murder charges.
What they’re saying:
During the sentencing, the daughter of one of the victims had a statement read on her behalf:
“There’s nothing that can truly prepare you for the moment your entire world is taken from you. Losing my mom has left a pain in my heart that words will never be able to explain.”
What’s next:
Minnesota law requires that Steward serves at least two-thirds of her sentence, a bit under eight-and-a-half years, in prison.
Fatal Emerson and 26th crash
The backstory:
According to the criminal complaint, through surveillance videos from the scene of the crash and witnesses, investigators learned that Steward, driving the Buick Enclave, had been driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Emerson Avenue North.
Before the fatal crash, Steward sped through the intersection of Emerson Avenue North and Broadway Avenue North, running a red light and nearly causing a crash, the charges said.
Steward then continued to speed northbound down Emerson Avenue North, and ran another red light at 26th Avenue North, hitting the Ford Explorer, which was traveling eastbound, according to the complaint.
The Ford Explorer had been at the intersection of Emerson and 26th on a green light.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty shared the following statement:
“This was an egregious act that took Rose and Esther’s lives and injured a child waiting to go to school at a bus stop. Ms. Steward was driving at extremely dangerous speeds on city streets and narrowly avoided multiple collisions before the incident occurred. Third-degree murder charges are appropriate to hold her accountable and protect our community.”
The Source: This story uses information gathered from an Olmsted County court appearance and previous FOX 9 reporting.
A motorcyclist is dead after an early morning crash in Minneapolis Friday morning.
The Minnesota State Patrol said that at 1:20 a.m., a Suzuki Motorcycle going north on I-35W at Johnson Street hit the left side of the median guard rail.
The motorcycle continued north for about another quarter mile before coming to a rest on the right-hand side.
State Patrol said the rider came to rest on the left shoulder. He was later identified as 21-year-old Andrew James Neuberger.
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The Rochester Spartans boys volleyball team played its second game on consecutive nights. The Spartans beat Minneapolis Camden 3-0.
Rochester’s next game will be Tuesday, April 21, at St. Anthony Village at 7:00 p.m.
Find stories like this and more in our apps.
Copyright 2026 KTTC. All rights reserved.
-
World5 minutes agoBulgaria votes in eighth election in five years
-
News35 minutes agoReal estate investors are buying up long-term care facilities. Residents can suffer
-
Detroit, MI3 hours agoFormer Piston shows Detroit what they’re missing as he dominates next to LeBron
-
San Francisco, CA3 hours agoEastbound I-80 closure in San Francisco snarls traffic, slows business
-
Videos3 hours agoCan Keir Starmer survive the latest Mandelson revelations? | BBC News
-
Dallas, TX3 hours agoPetar Musa’s Brace Not Enough as FC Dallas Draws LA Galaxy 2-2
-
Miami, FL3 hours agoMLS: Messi double helps Inter Miami slay Rapids in front of huge crowd
-
Boston, MA3 hours agoFrom across Boston they flock to play for Latin Academy boys’ tennis, a co-op of 29 schools – The Boston Globe