Minneapolis Scraps ‘Violence Interrupters’ After Recent Shootout

Mar 17

Charges have been filed after a shootout last week in North Minneapolis, leading city officials to withdraw their contract with a violence prevention nonprofit.

According to criminal complaints filed in Hennepin County, Kashmir Khaliffa McReynolds, 35, and Alvin Anthony Watkins Jr., 50, were involved in an exchange of gunfire near 36th Avenue North and Penn Avenue North on March 10.

Prosecutors allege the two fired multiple rounds in a residential area despite having no clear target, with Watkins unlawfully possessing a firearm due to his prior felony convictions. The shootout reportedly occurred after a backyard community barbecue nearby.

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Just after 9:36 p.m., Minneapolis police responded to a ShotSpotter activation indicating more than 60 rounds fired in the area. Officers arrived to find dozens of discharged cartridge casings, later learning McReynolds had a gunshot wound to the shoulder and a graze wound to his neck. Watkins was uninjured.

McReynolds—who was employed as a “violence interrupter” for city-funded Salem Inc., run by Rev. Jerry McAfee—later told police he had returned fire in self-defense. But surveillance footage captured him lying near a tree stump and firing multiple rounds from a 5.7x28mm Ruger pistol before reloading and shooting again while running toward Queen Avenue North. Investigators say he never had a clear visual of a target and later admitted to firing "in the general direction" of where he believed the assailant was.

Watkins—who is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous felony convictions—was also seen firing a .22 caliber handgun that belonged to McReynolds. The footage captured McReynolds instructing Watkins to retrieve his firearm from a vehicle, directing him to "load the [expletive]," before Watkins fired additional rounds into the alley.

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Following the arrests, city officials confirmed that McReynolds was working as a “violence interrupter” at the time of the shooting. The city had been considering renewing the nonprofit's contract but withdrew its request for funding after learning about the charges. A spokesperson for Mayor Jacob Frey's office confirmed that "the city has terminated consideration of this contract effective immediately" and said officials were reviewing partnerships to ensure accountability in all community safety programs.

McReynolds and Watkins are both charged with felony reckless discharge of a firearm in a municipality. Watkins also faces an illegal firearm possession charge due to previous convictions, which include assault and firearm-related offenses. McReynolds was booked into the Hennepin County Jail, while a warrant was issued for Watkins and he remains at-large as of publication.

McReynolds is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon. Authorities have not released details on whether additional suspects may have been involved in the initial gunfire and the case remains under investigation.

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