MINNEAPOLIS — A 17-year-old alleged gunman waived his adult certification proceedings in juvenile court Tuesday, meaning he faces more serious consequences in the 2022 shooting death of Zaria McKeever.
Prosecutors filed a criminal complaint charging 17-year-old Foday Kevin Kamara with two adult counts of second-degree murder in the high-profile case, which ended in McKeever's death on Nov. 8, 2022. In that complaint, investigators allege that Erick Haynes, the victim's ex-boyfriend, enlisted Kamara and his brother to "deal" with her new partner. Haynes was the father of McKeever's child and had reportedly been threatening and harassing her for weeks.
The complaint says Haynes gave a gun to Kamara, who was just 15 at the time, and said if McKeever caused any problems in trying to get to her new boyfriend the teen should shoot her in the leg. Instead, Kamara reportedly told investigators in an interview, he kicked in the door to McKeever's apartment and fired at her up to nine times after claiming she came after him with a knife. One of those shots hit the victim in the abdomen, killing her.
Surveillance video and witnesses identified Haynes, Kamara and his older brother as suspects in the murder. When arrested and interviewed, Brooklyn Park police say all three admitted involvement in the crime.
Then-Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman immediately moved to try Kamara as an adult, but when Mary Moriarty was elected she changed course, offering the teens a plea deal that would have them serve two years in the Red Wing juvenile prison and testify against Haynes. McKeever's family publicly objected to the deal and Gov. Tim Walz stepped in, assigning the case to Attorney General Keith Ellison's office.
On Tuesday Kamara waived his adult certification proceedings and was quickly ordered by Judge Todd Fellman to stand trial as an adult. KARE 11's Lou Raguse has been following the case since its inception, and says Kamara's decision not to fight being waived into adult court indicates a plea deal may be in the works.
Foday Kamara's next court appearance is set for Wednesday, March 20 at 1:30 p.m. He remains in custody.
Moriarty's office issued a statement after the development:
“Based on the Attorney General’s prior comments that even a 15 year old who ‘commits such a horrible murder should serve years in prison’ it was clear they would seek adult certification and decades in prison. So it’s not a surprise that Mr. Kamara now faces adult charges carrying a presumptive sentence of 25 years. We continue to believe the best outcome would be to hold him accountable in a way that protects the public and accounts for his age and extensive history of trauma. Seeking the treatment exclusively available in the juvenile system would have achieved that because it would reduce his likelihood of reoffending in the future.”
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