Man, 2 teens charged in fatal shooting of woman during invasion of her Brooklyn Park apartment

Jealousy appears to have played a role in the shooting, according to the charges.

November 10, 2022 at 10:59PM

A 22-year-old man and two teenagers were charged Thursday in the fatal shooting of the man's ex-girlfriend during an invasion of her Brooklyn Park apartment earlier this week.

Erick D. Haynes, of Brooklyn Park, was charged in Hennepin County District Court with two counts of aiding and abetting second-degree murder in connection with the killing of Zaria R. McKeever, 23, who was shot multiple times in her home Tuesday at the Eden Park apartment complex in the 6300 block of N. Zane Avenue and died at the scene.

Also charged in juvenile court with the same counts was James S. Kamara, 17, also of Brooklyn Park. The County Attorney's Office has indicated that it intends to have Kamara's case moved to adult court, where a conviction would likely mean a more severe sentence.

A second teenager also has been charged as a juvenile, but the defendant being 16 or younger prevents his identity and other information from being released, the County Attorney's Office said.

Erick Haynes (Hennepin County jail/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Haynes remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail and is due in court on Monday. Kamara remains in custody as well and is due on court on Nov. 17. Court records do not list an attorney for Haynes. A message was left with Kamara's attorney seeking a response to the allegations.

The charges against Kamara disclosed that he told police it was the younger teenager who shot McKeever while on a mission to shoot her new boyfriend.

According to the charges:

McKeever's current boyfriend told police that McKeever had been harassed and threatened by Haynes, who is the father of her child.

The boyfriend said he was in the apartment's bathroom at 2:30 a.m. when the door was kicked in. He could hear McKeever arguing with someone in the main living space. He jumped out a second-story window and found someone to call 911.

Apartment complex video showed a car associated with Haynes at the complex several times in the days before the shooting. Additional video immediately after the shooting showed two suspects running from the complex.

A gun believed used in the shooting was located by a law enforcement K9 tucked in the wheel well of a car parked near a hotel associated with Haynes. Law enforcement tests on the gun revealed a match with discharged cartridge casings at the scene of the shooting.

Police arrested Haynes, Kamara and a 16-year-old teenager along with two other adults who were later released pending further investigation.

Haynes told police he was mad at McKeever for having a new boyfriend. He admitted going to the apartment with the two teenagers, and one of them had a gun. He said he knocked on the door, but there was no answer.

He said the two teens planned to kick in the door and confront the people inside, while he waited in the car. Haynes said he bought the gun and gave it to the teens, leaving him to concede his DNA would be on the weapon.

Kamara told police that he and the other teen went to the apartment intending to shoot McKeever's current boyfriend. After they kicked in the door, she confronted them with a knife, and the younger teenager shot McKeever multiple times. One shot hit Kamara in the leg.

about the writer

about the writer

Paul Walsh

Reporter

Paul Walsh is a general assignment reporter at the Star Tribune. He wants your news tips, especially in and near Minnesota.

See More

More from North Metro

card image

The pilot was the only person inside the plane, and was not injured in the emergency landing, according to the State Patrol.