St. Paul, MN – A local man was sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison Thursday for a shooting in St. Paul that claimed the life of 30-year-old Alfonzo Avery Armstead and stemmed from what the shooter described as “a clash of egos.” E’Shaun Maurice Funches, 24, admitted his role in the daytime incident that occurred outside the Sunrise Grocery and Tobacco store on December 13, 2023.
In a courtroom statement, Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Ryan Flynn characterized the murder as not simply an act fueled by ego, but a rash decision exacerbated by the availability of a firearm. “A few seconds, that’s all it took for the defendant to make a decision that not only ended a life but deeply affected the lives of the victim’s family and friends,” Flynn said.
Funches, who pleaded guilty in February to second-degree unintentional murder and possessing a firearm despite being ineligible, encountered Armstead outside the local store. Surveillance videos and witness accounts contradicted Funches’ initial denial of involvement, mapping out his actions from exiting a Nissan Rogue to opening fire on Armstead, who was unaware and had his back turned.
Armstead sustained multiple gunshot wounds and later succumbed to his injuries at Regions Hospital. According to the prosecution, this brutal act exhibits the dangerous consequences of impulsive behavior paired with lethal weaponry.
The impact of the tragedy on Armstead’s family was palpable in court, where a victim impact statement described the perennial grief that the killing has precipitated. “The hurt and pain will never go away. We will never get over this ordeal,” the statement read.
Previously, less than a month before the shooting, Funches had completed a probation period for an aggravated robbery case in Minneapolis dating back to 2019.
Details from the investigation revealed that immediately after the incident, Funches attempted to alter his appearance by discarding his clothes near a local church. However, he was intercepted by a police officer who observed Funches attempting to dispose of the items. Further police work linked the Taurus handgun, found hidden under leaves nearby, to Funches through ballistic matches.
During his arrest, Funches initially claimed innocence, suggesting he merely found the clothes and was disposing of candy wrappers. However, his story unraveled as more evidence was gathered, including testimony from the individuals who unwittingly facilitated his getaway.
In an unusual courtroom moment, Funches, led in by deputies, acknowledged his family members with a hand-formed heart but chose not to speak formally. His attorney, Assistant Public Defender Lauri Traub, conveyed his client’s remorse, reading from his pre-sentence statement that expressed regret and acknowledged the role of heightened emotions in the tragic outcome.
The prosecution and defense had earlier reached a plea agreement, which resulted in the dismissal of a charge of second-degree murder with intent and established the prison term now facing Funches. This case, intersecting issues of crime, punishment, and the human cost of armed violence, continues to resonate in the St. Paul community as it grapples with the consequences of a moment defined by impulsive aggression and irreversible loss.