$180,000 Reward Offered for Information Regarding the Shootings of Three Children in Minneapolis

(KNSI) – The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says up to $180,000 in reward money is being offered in the investigation of three children shot in Minneapolis. Two of those kids died as a result of their injuries.

Ten-year-old Ladavionne Garrett Junior of St. Cloud was shot on April 30th while riding in the back seat of a car with his parents near 35th and Penn Avenues North. The three were leaving Ladavionne’s grandmother’s house when he was shot. Sharrie Jennings says her family is pleading for help for her grandson.

Minnesota Department of Public Safety

“This silence is killing our family-there are rules and regulations to the streets. Kids and elders are off-limits. There is no reason that no one has come forward and said anything about these three kids that have been shot in the head. When are you all going to say something? We deserve answers. We deserve to know.”

She says they’re not giving up finding the shooter.

“I’m going to be my grandson’s voice until he can talk and say it on his own. I’m not going to stop until we go to trial for whoever did this. Justice will be served. You may be laughing now, but you will cry later mark my words.”

Ladavionne was rushed to North Memorial Medical Center, where he remains. The family says he’s doing good, is awake, and goes to therapy six days a week.

On May 15th, two weeks after Ladavionne was shot, nine-year-old Trinity Ottoson-Smith was jumping on a trampoline with other children at a birthday party in the 2200 block of Ilion Avenue North when she was shot by someone in a car driving down an alley. She was also rushed to North Memorial Medical Center. Her room was reportedly right next to Ladavionne’s. Trinity died on May 27th.

May 16th, six-year-old Aniya Allen was also shot while riding in a car in Minneapolis at 35th and Penn Avenues North. She was in her mother’s SUV, eating a Happy Meal in the backseat, when gunfire rang out, hitting Aniya in the head. She was rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center, where she died on May 19th.

“When did they get to the point that our kids can’t ride in the car? When did it get to the point that our kids can’t go to McDonald’s? When did it get to the point that our kids can’t even jump on a trampoline? Where is the safety and for our children? This is our future,” said Jennings.

Spotlight on Crime is putting up the money, the largest reward they’ve ever offered in Minnesota.

If you have information, it can be submitted online to Crime Stoppers of Minnesota or called in at 1-800-222-8477. Tipsters are anonymous.

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KNSI News Reporter Jake Judd contributed to this story.

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