Latest news with #KashmirMcReynolds
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Indictment: 21 Days of Peace violence interrupters fired 43 shots in March incident
Indictment: 21 Days of Peace violence interrupters fired 43 shots in March incident originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Two men who worked for the Minneapolis violence interruption group 21 Days of Peace have been indicted by a federal grand jury with gun crimes following a March incident in which they fired dozens of shots. Alvin Anthony Watkins, Jr., 50, of St. Anthony, and Kashmir Khaliffa McReynolds, 35, of Minneapolis, are facing federal charges, with the U.S. Attorney's Office saying they "recklessly fired approximately 43 bullets into the dark, in a residential neighborhood in North Minneapolis" on Monday, Mar. 10. The pair had allegedly just finished their shifts attending a barbecue hosted by 21 Days of Peace when a still-unidentified assailant fired around 30 shots in their direction. "Although McReynolds did not see a person fire the gunshots, he fired numerous rounds in the general direction from which he thought the gunshots had originated, then ran to the other side of the block and continued shooting," the U.S. Attorney's Office said. "He also supplied Watkins with another gun, which Watkins fired a number of times. McReynolds knew Watkins was prohibited from carrying and possessing firearms due to his prior felony convictions. In total, McReynolds and Watkins fired approximately 43 rounds of ammunition." 21 Days of Peace is a violence interruption group under the umbrella of Salem Inc., the nonprofit founded by the Rev. Jerry McAfee that has received millions of dollars in funding via the Minnesota Legislature and The City of Minneapolis in recent years."McReynolds and Watkins were paid taxpayer money to bring peace to the community. Instead, they brought the very violence they claimed to be interrupting. This is outrageous. These defendants will be held to account," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. But speaking to the Star Tribune, the Rev. McAfee questioned why the violence interrupters have been charged at the federal level given their case is also with the Hennepin County Attorney's Office. He also questioned why the pair have been charged and nobody has been arrested for firing upon them on the first place, saying: "It's interesting: They fired at 'em 30 times, you got nothing?" This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Minneapolis violence prevention workers indicted after March BBQ shooting
The Brief Two workers with the "21 Days of Peace" violence prevention group are now facing gun charges themselves. Kashmir McReynolds, 35, is accused of aiding and abetting possession of ammo/firearm and reckless discharge of a firearm. Alvin Watkins Jr., 50, is charged with possession of ammo/firearm after being convicted of a violent crime and reckless discharge of a firearm. MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Two members of a Minneapolis violence prevention organization, run by Rev. Jerry McAfee and tasked with deescalating conflicts throughout the city, have been federally indicted on weapons charges after one of them was shot following a cookout in March. What we know According to an indictment filed on June 5, 2025, Kashmir McReynolds and Alvin Watkins Jr., "recklessly fired approximately 43 bullets into the dark in a residential neighborhood in north Minneapolis" on March documents say that McReynolds fired one gun, while Watkins fired another, despite a core tenant of the group being they are supposed to remain unarmed in their efforts. Watkins was also prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions. At around 9:36 p.m. on March 10, McReynolds, Watkins and other community members were attending a BBQ near 36th Street and Penn Avenue North when 30 bullets were shot in their direction – one hitting McReynolds in the neck and torso. Although he did not see who fired the shots, court documents allege that McReynolds then retaliated by shooting in the general direction they came from. Following the incident, McReynolds, 35, was charged with aiding and abetting possession of ammo/firearm and reckless discharge of a firearm. Alvin Watkins Jr., 50, was charged with possession of ammo/firearm after being convicted of a violent crime and reckless discharge of a firearm. The backstory 21 Days for Peace was contracted by Minneapolis for approximately $1.5 million per year for fiscal 2023 and 2024 for "social equity building and community engagement services." However, the approval of violence interrupter groups by the Minneapolis City Council has come under scrutiny in recent months by those questioning exactly what they do, and by what metrics they are held accountable for receiving the money that is doled out to them.
