Dispute over $20 debt led to fatal shooting at south Minneapolis tent encampment, charges say

A Minneapolis man shot and killed a resident of a tent encampment in the Phillips neighborhood last month following a dispute over a $20 debt, according to murder charges filed Tuesday.

Kenneth J. McKinnis, 38, was charged with second-degree intentional murder in Hennepin County District Court in the death of 37-year-old Curtis Johnson.

McKinnis has a long criminal history with previous convictions for theft, assault and disorderly conduct. He remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Minneapolis police responded to a shooting at the small tent encampment in the 2400 block of 16th Avenue S. around 1 p.m. Sept. 26. Officers found Johnson suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest. He died 40 minutes later at HCMC.

Witnesses told investigators that McKinnis came to the encampment the day before, where he got into a heated argument with Johnson over $20. One witness recalled hearing McKinnis promise to return and shoot Johnson if he didn't come up with the cash, charges say.

The next day, bystanders reported seeing McKinnis beeline toward Johnson's tent with a firearm in his waistband, wearing a glove on one hand. After a brief exchange of words, a gunshot pierced the air — and McKinnis was seen running away.

Surveillance video from the area captured footage of a stolen pickup truck arriving at the encampment just before the shooting that afternoon and a passenger exit the car wearing red. The same man is seen entering Johnson's tent, then running back to the truck seconds after a gunshot rings out.

Police located the abandoned truck in a Brooklyn Center parking lot the following day. They later identified the vehicle's driver via surveillance video. He told authorities that he agreed to give McKinnis a ride to the encampment that day, but claimed that he stayed in the truck listening to music the whole time and never heard a gunshot. The driver alleged that McKinnis came running back to the vehicle saying something like, "Let's go!"

When the driver dropped McKinnis back home, he observed McKinnis transfer a gun from his seat to his waistband.