Minneapolis, MN – Twin teenage boys have been charged in relation to the fatal shooting of their 15-year-old cousin, Tyra Terry, in north Minneapolis last weekend. Announced on Tuesday by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, the incident has officially been ruled a homicide following an autopsy which confirmed that Terry succumbed to a gunshot wound to the chest.
The young boys, aged 16 and 17, now face charges of aiding an offender after the fact in a tragedy that unfolded in the residential neighborhood’s 3400 block of Logan Avenue North on Saturday afternoon. According to police reports, officers were dispatched to the scene around 1:50 p.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, responders found the two teens alongside Terry, who was lying unconscious on the floor.
Despite immediate lifesaving attempts by first responders, Terry was declared dead after being transported to the hospital. Subsequent investigations by the police identified a loaded gun with a clear, extended magazine filled with 9mm rounds at the scene. This ammunition matched the type recovered from Terry’s body during the medical examination.
Eyewitness accounts provided to the police have painted a chaotic post-event scene, with one witness recalling hearing a gunshot and the youths exclaiming it was an accident. Another witness described waking up to screams and seeing a third individual, purportedly a friend of the teens and considered a suspect, also present at the time of the incident. It was reported that this suspect tried to assist Terry, but left the premises before the arrival of law enforcement.
Throughout the police interview, both teens denied being present in the room at the time of the shooting and claimed ignorance of the suspect’s presence. Court documents suggest that the shooting may have been a result of the negligent handling of the firearm, which remains a critical direction of the ongoing investigation.
The local community and Terry’s family are deeply shaken by the loss. A vigil was held on Monday, drawing dozens of community members and loved ones who came together to mourn and remember the young girl. The tragic event has sparked further conversations about gun safety, particularly involving youths, and the broader implications of firearm accessibility.
This latest incident underscores a disturbing pattern of juvenile involvement in firearm-related incidents and has given rise to urgent calls for intervention strategies that focus on education and preventive measures aimed at reducing such heartbreaking outcomes. As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how this event might impact the broader discussion surrounding gun control and child safety in Minnesota.