HENNEPIN COUNTY, Minn. — Editor's note: The video above first aired on KARE 11 on March 1, 2023.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced Friday that two more adults are now facing charges in connection to the death of Zaria McKeever, who was shot and killed in Brooklyn Park last November.
Eriana Dewauna Haynes, 24, of Brooklyn Center, and 24-year-old Tavion Michael Darnell James, of Brooklyn Park, were each charged with one felony charge of Aiding an Offender - Accomplice After the Fact, bringing the total number of people charged in McKeever's death to five.
"As her family and the community are grieving, we have continued to pursue justice and accountability," Moriarty said when announcing the charges.
Eriana Haynes is the sister of Erick Haynes, the chief suspect charged in McKeever's murder. He's accused of giving a gun to two teens, 15 and 17, driving them to McKeever's apartment and sending them inside. The 15-year-old is accused of pulling the trigger.
Despite the new charges, Zaria's family is still unhappy with the county attorney.
"We just don't trust them," said Zaria's sister Tiffynnie Epps.
Earlier in March, McKeever's family protested a decision by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty to offer the teenagers a plea deal that would send them to the Red Wing juvenile prison for two years rather than an adult prison term.
They've met with Attorney General Keith Ellison and want him to take over the case.
In a statement, Ellison said, "The Attorney General's office stands prepared to help in any way. We believe we could assist by bringing some sense of comfort and confidence to the family."
"[Ellison] understands [the need] to reform juveniles, but murder is murder. And murderers should be charged as such," Epps said.
Moriarty's approach with juveniles is laid out in a memo recently sent to her youth prosecution staff that says they'll use adult certification less often to keep juvenile offenders out of the adult criminal system which they believe protects community safety more in the long run.
Moriarty says the juvenile plea deal and their required cooperation is what led to the two new adult suspects are charged
"Because we never stopped investigating even after the police made their initial arrest," she said.
But the victim's family is unfazed in their opinion.
"We don't trust you and we want it in the attorney general's hands," Epps said.
The plea deal for the 15-year-old is set to go into effect at a hearing scheduled for April 7th.
The 17-year-old has already pleaded guilty, and following his release from juvenile prison a suspended adult prison term will be held over his head until he turns 21.
Erick Haynes, the main suspect, is due back in court in May. His charge could be upgraded to murder in the first degree if a grand jury returns an indictment.
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