Five killed during 24 hours of violence in Minneapolis are identified
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
Five of the six people killed during a deadly 24 hours of violence in Minneapolis have been identified by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.
Four people died when a man, whom prosecutors allege was Native Mob member James Ortley, opened fire while inside a vehicle at 15th Avenue South and 25th Street East shortly before midnight on Tuesday.
The three victims who died at the scene in the incident have been identified as follows:
Joseph Goodwin, 17, of Minneapolis, who died of gunshot wounds to the head and neck.
Evan Denny, 27, of St. Paul, who died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Merelle White, 20, of Red Lake, who died of a gunshot wound to the head.
A fourth person, identified online as 28-year-old Leras Rainey, was confirmed to have died of his injuries on Thursday at Hennepin County Medical Center.
White's twin sister, Maleice, was also in the vehicle when the shots rang out, suffered critical injuries and remains hospitalized.
MPD Chief Brian O'Hara at the scene of the shooting Tuesday night.Minneapolis Police Department
Charges filed against Ortley on Friday allege he was inside the vehicle with all five victims when he opened fire. He was described as a "close family friend" of the victims.
Most of the victims in the Tuesday mass shooting are members of the Native American community, with police saying the incident was "targeted" and believed to be gang related.
The man fatally shot in a potentially retaliatory attack on the 2100 block of 17th Avenue South on Wednesday afternoon has been identified as 34-year-old Tiago Gilbert, a Native American who lives in Minneapolis. No arrest has been made in his killing at this time.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner also identified Derrick Ewing, 51, of Minneapolis, as the man killed after being shot at Lake Street and 15th Avenue South on Wednesday evening. Police say this shooting was not connected to the other two.
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Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hate crime or neighborhood feud? Everything we know so far about Jonathan Joss's killing
Jonathan Joss's struggles didn't begin when he was shot Sunday night. In the midst of a years-long feud with the man accused of killing him, the actor was self-admittedly dealing with the loss of his house and pets, financial hardships, and substance abuse. These problems are all too present in LGBTQ+ and Indigenous communities and were particularly felt by Joss toward the end of his life. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. "As we reflect on the recent coverage surrounding Jonathan's final days, we carry this ache like a stone in our chest," the American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions said in a statement. "Public reports describing his distress are heartbreaking, not because they define who he was, but because they point to a more profound crisis that is all too familiar in Native communities: the unspoken, underserved, and ongoing struggle with mental hardship and lateral violence." While the circumstances surrounding his shooting are complicated, one thing remains clear — Joss's death is a tragedy that has deeply impacted queer and Native circles. Here's everything we know about Joss's killing and the events leading up to it. Fox/NBC John Redcorn on 'King of the Hill'; Chief Ken Hotate on 'Parks and Rec' Jonathan Joss, 59, was an out gay Indigenous actor of Apache and Comanche heritage known for his roles in Fox's animated series King of the Hill and NBC's sitcom Parks and Recreation. Joss voiced John Redcorn, a Native American masseur and healer, on King of the Hill, and portrayed Ken Hotate, a Native American chief, on Parks and Recreation. He had reportedly already recorded some of his lines for the upcoming King of the Hill reboot, which will be available in August on Hulu. Joss married his partner, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, 32, on Valentine's Day of this year. The couple had been living in Joss's childhood home in San Antonio, Texas — which his father built for his mother in 1957 — for several years before his death. Joss struggled with addiction throughout his life and had been open about spending time in mental health treatment. He said on the Bwaaa! The King of the Hill Podcast that he was not sober. Recorded one day before his death, the episode would become his last interview. "I've already lost everything. My house burnt down. I ain't going to give up drugs. I ain't going to give up drinking. They're my friends," he said. - YouTube Joss's home burned down in January, resulting in the deaths of his and Kern de Gonzales's three dogs. The couple had been staying in a hotel due to electricity issues after the home was vandalized but returned regularly to take care of the dogs. Upon returning one afternoon, Joss found a blaze had consumed the house. Joss said that he had been using a propane tank inside the house for heat but that he had turned it off before he left. He and Kern de Gonzales soon after launched a GoFundMe to help with their living expenses. "This is a house I grew up in. I'm more concerned about my dog that died, but you know what? The good Lord will protect us,' Joss told local outlet KSAT at the time. 'Mistakes happen, man. And it's my fault for, I guess, leaving something on. Or if somebody came in and did something, who knows?' Joss was often candid on social media about their financial struggles, offering Cameos to earn revenue. He denied a rumor that he started the fire for insurance money, telling the the Bwaaa! podcast hosts that he would never kill his dogs. "My closest friend said, 'Jonathan, we know you set that fire. ... We know you did it for money,'" Joss said. "I said, 'Guys, my dogs ... were there. I would never hurt my dogs. ... I would never light my dogs on fire.'" - YouTube Just two days before his death, Joss interrupted a King of the Hill reunion panel by claiming the fire that destroyed his house was a deliberate act of arson against him because of his sexual orientation. Joss was not invited to the panel, which was meant to be a small gathering of he main cast, but attended in the audience. When one of the actors said of Joss, "We love our guy, Johnny, and so sad he's not here," he revealed himself in the crowd and took a microphone meant for fan questions. 'You were talking about Johnny, and I want to say something about him,' the panel moderator from Variety recalled him saying. 'Our house burnt down three months ago. Because I'm gay." Joss explained the moment on Bwaaa!, saying that he did not initially intend to interrupt the panel but spoke up in the heat of the moment. "The worst thing about not existing in the world is someone ignoring you when they have taken from your culture," he said. Jonathan Joss Kern de Gonzales revealed in a Facebook post that he and Joss were "involved in a shooting" when they returned to the site of their former home to check the mail. He claimed that the fire and the shooting occurred "after over two years of threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set it on fire" and that despite reporting the threats to law enforcement multiple times, "nothing was done." "When we returned to the site to check our mail we discovered the skull of one of our dogs and its harness placed in clear view," Kern de Gonzales wrote. "This caused both of us severe emotional distress. We began yelling and crying in response to the pain of what we saw. While we were doing this a man approached us. He started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us. He then raised a gun from his lap and fired." "Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving," he continued. "We were standing side by side. When the man fired Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life." - YouTube Kern de Gonzales later told NBC that he and Joss, after seeing their dead dog's skull placed in front of their burnt down home, believed it to be a message from their neighbors taunting them. In anger, Joss began shouting and walking back and forth in the street with a pitchfork. One neighbor shared a video with KSAT that shows Joss walking with the pitchfork and yelling about half an hour before his death. 'I knew something was going to happen. I wanted to call the police, but he hadn't done anything," she said. Kern de Gonzales said the suspect pulled up in his car several minutes after Joss had returned to his side. Kern de Gonzales said the man called him and his husband "jotos," a Spanish slur for gay people, before shooting Joss. 'I could give two fucks less if me or my husband had 50 pitchforks in every orifice of our body rolling up and down that street like tumbleweed," Kern de Gonzales said. "It don't matter." Bexar County Sheriff's Office via Getty Images Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez's mug shot Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with Joss's killing, telling officers as he was being detained "I shot him," according to the police report. The two neighbors had reportedly been feuding for over a year, with law enforcement frequently being called to Joss's residence to settle their disputes. Alvarez told police in June 2024 that Joss approached his house with a crossbow while calling him racial slurs, though Joss claimed that he walked over to "talk about their dogs fighting with each other." Upon searching Joss's house, officers found a crossbow and confiscated it. Joss accused Alvarez of being the one who burned his home down in January, according to a separate police report via NBC. The officer taking the report wrote, "I have classified this fire to be undetermined in nature at this time but cannot rule out human involvement intentional or unintentional." Alvarez posted his $200,000 bond Monday night, a Bexar County court spokesperson told Yahoo News. He is now under house arrest, during which he is subject to random drug testing and is not allowed to access firearms. NBC Jonathan Joss Multiple neighbors have said that Joss often spoke loudly and behaved erratically but that no violent confrontations had occurred until he was shot. One woman said that Joss and Alvarez would often fire guns on their own property, but never at each other. 'I've been here six years and when we moved in, it was already going on, so it's just been years of feud with these two,' she told the New York Post. 'I'm not taking nobody's side because I do have reports on both of them, but nothing got done. This man should be alive today, but nothing got done.' The neighbor who took the video of Joss with the pitchfork also said that he "was always yelling at the top of his lungs." She explained, "He would say that all the children on this street were going to die, and that we were all going to go to hell because we're sinners and God is on his side.' Another neighbor told San Antonio TV station WOAI that she had seen Joss outside minutes before his death and that he seemed upset about something. She said that he and his husband "had been repeatedly harassed because they were gay and their home was burned down after years of threats from neighbors." The San Antonio Police Department released a statement shortly after Joss's death claiming it had uncovered "no evidence" to suggest that the killing was a hate crime, which his husband's statement contested. The department later retracted its comments. Police Chief William McManus walked back the statement at a press conference Thursday while also apologizing to the LGBTQ+ community for dismissing their concerns, saying "it was way too early in the process for any statement of that nature to be issued." "We understand that many in the LBGTQ+ [sic] community are feeling anxious and concerned," McManus said. "A lot of that has to do with that premature statement that we released, and again, I own that. We shouldn't have done it. The loss of Jonathan Joss was tragic and most heavily felt by the LBGTQ+ [sic] community." McManus also clarified that the police department doesn't charge hate crimes in Texas. Instead, police "gather the facts and we give those facts to the district attorney's office; then that hate-crime designation is determined at sentencing." Kern de Gonzales had asserted in his Facebook post that throughout their time living at Joss's family home as a couple, they "were harassed regularly by individuals who made it clear they did not accept our relationship. Much of the harassment was openly homophobic." "He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other," he said. Screenshot from @prattprattpratt on Instagram Chris Pratt tribute to Jonathan Joss Several of Joss's colleagues from King of the Hill and Parks and Recreation have posted messages mourning the actor. The official social media accounts for the shows have also posted tributes. King of the Hill creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels and current showrunner Saladin Patterson released a statement on the show's Instagram page saying that "his voice will be missed at King of the Hill, and we extend our deepest condolences to Jonathan's friends and family." Toby Huss, who voiced Kahn Souphanousinphone and Cotton Hill on King of the Hill, wrote on Instagram Story in reaction to the news,"RIP old friend. Godspeed." Chris Pratt, who played Andy Dwyer on Parks and Recreation, also posted a message to his story, which read, "Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in Mag 7 [The Magnificent Seven]. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones." Nick Offerman, who played Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation, told People that the cast had been texting about the news and were all "heartbroken." He added,"Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy."
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
What to know about fatal shooting of 'King of the Hill' actor Jonathan Joss as co-stars pay tribute
HOUSTON (AP) — While it remains unclear what prompted the fatal shooting of Jonathan Joss, a Native American voice actor best known for his work on the animated television series 'King of the Hill,' police say they are looking into whether his sexual orientation played a role in his death. Joss' husband has claimed the person who killed the actor yelled 'violent homophobic slurs' before opening fire. Initially, San Antonio police said they found 'no evidence whatsoever to indicate that Mr. Joss' murder was related to his sexual orientation.' But on Thursday, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus walked back that statement, saying it had been made prematurely and whether Joss' sexual orientation played a role in the shooting 'is part of the investigation.' Since Joss' killing, friends, actors Joss worked with and fans have honored the actor's memory with tributes and fond remembrances. Here's what to know about Joss, his career and his shooting: Who was Joss? Joss, 59, grew up in San Antonio and graduated from the communications and theater program at Our Lady of the Lake University in 1990. Joss was best known as the voice of John Redcorn, a Native American character on the popular 'King of the Hill' animated series, which ran for 13 seasons from 1997 to 2008. A reboot of the show, which Joss had already worked on, is set to start in August. Joss also had a recurring role on the television show 'Parks and Recreation,' playing Chief Ken Hotate. He appeared in two episodes of the series 'Tulsa King' in 2022. What was happening with Joss in the months before his death? Joss' childhood home, where he still lived, burned down in January. He lost all his belongings, and his three dogs were killed in the blaze. A GoFundMe account had been set up to help Joss and his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, get back on their feet. 'We may have lost our home, but not our hope. We're moving forward with love, humor, and a little elbow grease … and we're incredibly grateful for every ounce of support,' Joss said in a May 14 Facebook post in which he indicated he was in Los Angeles looking for a new home. By the end of May, Joss was back in Texas, and on Saturday, he took part in a live music performance in Austin, located about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of San Antonio. Who is accused of fatally shooting Joss? Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, is accused by police of confronting Joss and his husband as they were checking their mail at the burned-down home Sunday night. In a statement, de Gonzales alleged that when Ceja Alvarez opened fire, Joss pushed his husband out of the way and saved his life. Ceja Alvarez was charged with murder. He is free on a $200,000 bond. Ceja Alvarez's attorney, Alfonso Otero, asked the public to withhold judgment in the case until all the evidence is reviewed by prosecutors. 'Mr. Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez maintains his innocence and categorically denies any accusations and statements made against him by individuals and the media. We have confidence and trust that the judicial process will be fair to all parties involved and request everyone to respect Mr. Ceja and his family's right to privacy and his constitutional right to a fair trial,' Otero said in a statement released late Friday. Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said it was premature to decide if Joss' shooting was a hate crime, which under Texas law would be handled — if there's a conviction — as an enhancement during sentencing and not as a separate charge. 'We'll certainly keep our options open when the case is filed with us ... I'm not closing the door on the possibility of alleging hate crime as an enhancement in this case," Gonzales said during a news conference on Thursday. Robert Rios, a friend of Joss', told TV station KSAT that Joss and Ceja Alvarez were neighbors and the two had argued for years. McManus said police had been called to Joss' home and his neighborhood about 70 times over the past two years related to 'neighborhood type disturbances" and that sometimes Joss made those calls and at other times neighbors had called to report Joss. How is Joss being remembered by friends, actors? Actor Chris Pratt, who worked with Joss on 'Parks and Recreation,' fondly remembered the actor in an Instagram story on Monday. Both actors had also appeared in the 2016 remake of 'The Magnificent Seven.' 'Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude,' Pratt wrote. 'Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.' In a Facebook post, San Antonio-based Our Lady of the Lake University, Joss' alma mater, called him 'a trailblazer in his field. His work and advocacy have left a lasting impact, and his legacy will continue to inspire.' 'His voice will be missed at King of the Hill, and we extend our deepest condolences to Jonathan's friends and family,' the show's creators and producers — Mike Judge, Greg Daniels and Saladin Patterson — said in a statement on the animated series' Instagram page. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano: Juan A. Lozano, The Associated Press
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
FBI offers $5,000 reward for information on Montana teen missing for 8 months
GARRYOWEN, Montana () — The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office is now offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of a missing 13-year-old from Montana. A new tipline phone number has been established solely for her case: 801-579-6195. Sa'Wade Birdinground was last seen at her family's residence in Garryowen, Montana, on October 6, 2024. She is 13 years old, roughly 5'4″ to 5'5″ tall, 130-140 pounds, and has brown eyes and curly brown hair. According to the FBI, Birdinground was last seen wearing a black hoodie with mushrooms on it, an anime t-shirt, basketball shorts, and purple slip-on Skechers. She may have been wearing a black and purple Adidas backpack and an elk tooth necklace. Utah`s next earthquake could hit harder, U of U research suggests In a press conference today, Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed from the FBI's Salt Lake City Field Office held a press conference on the search for Birdinground. The SLC Field Office covers Montana, Utah, and Idaho. 'Eight months ago today, on October 6, 2024, Sa'Wade disappeared from her family home in Garryowen. This was the last time those of you who know and love Sa'Wade saw her,' Syed stated. 'Eight months is an incomprehensible amount of time for any family to be without their child.' Syed reiterated the FBI's commitment to finding Birdinground. He said that they are working closely with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Tribe Executive Branch, the Tribe's Search and Rescue, and the Big Horn County Sheriff's Office to bring the 13-year-old home. According to Syed, the FBI and local law enforcement have 'conducted dozens of interviews, searched hundreds of acres of land, and brought every technical resource to bear.' He said that the FBI is 'fully committed' to this investigation and bringing Birdinground home. St. George to crack down on off-highway vehicles after fatal crash kills 9-year-old boy 'I've never met Sa'Wade, but I've learned a lot about what kind of teen she is,' he said. 'Quiet with strangers but outgoing with family and friends, kind, artistic … She is well-liked by her friends and teachers, many of whom talked about her sense of humor and how Sa'Wade makes them laugh … Sa'Wade enjoyed spending time with her siblings, and they miss her dearly.' This year, the FBI has 'doubled the number of special agents' who are working Indian Country cases in the Billings Resident Agency. These agents will assist with Birdinground's case and other investigations in the area. This effort is part of the FBI's Operation Not Forgotten, which launched in 2023. 'We want our Native American communities to know, you are not forgotten. We hear you; you matter. Sa'Wade is not forgotten, she matters, and we are doing everything in our power to bring her home,' Syed stated. Anyone with information on Birdinground's disappearance should contact the tip line established for her case, 801-579-6195, or their local FBI field office. Ram kills the $40K truck, brings back the HEMI Assassin dancers, existential nuns, and comedy that cuts deep Two inmates charged for allegedly stabbing 'rival gang member' at Utah State Prison FBI offers $5,000 reward for information on Montana teen missing for 8 months Pride Festival: Here are the street closures happening in Salt Lake City Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
