Woman shot to death in Linden Hills apartment; suspect believed to be live-in partner on the run

A 43-year-old woman was shot to death in an apartment west of Lake Harriet in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis in a domestic dispute Sunday night, while the suspect believed to be her live-in partner remains on the run.

The shooting occurred about 8:20 p.m. at the Cove of Linden Hills apartments in the 4200 block of S. Sheridan Avenue, according to Minneapolis police. Officers rendered aid, including CPR, but the woman died at the scene.

She was later identified to the Star Tribune by police as Kesha L. Moore of Minneapolis.

"Preliminary information indicates that this is a domestic-related incident between the female and her live-in domestic partner," a statement from police read. Investigators have yet to make an arrest in the case.

Moore's sister, Kena Thomas, issued a plea for information about the person she believes is responsible for the shooting. Other relatives begged those who know the man to call authorities and turn him in.

The Star Tribune generally does not name individuals before they are charged with a crime.

Officers dispatched to the building about a shooting "attempted to make contact" with someone involved, "but no one answered," a police report read.

However, "after receiving multiple calls from the suspect, it was decided that the victim may be inside the apartment," the report continued.

Officers forced their way into the residence and found the woman "on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound," according to the report.

Rose DeCoteau said her longtime friend and extended family member was a grandmother, mother, daughter and sister who "will be greatly missed. … She was kindhearted, funny [and] a believer in education moving [people] forward in life."

DeCoteau said Moore owned a personal care assistance business in the Twin Cities. Moore's LinkedIn account lists her as the executive director of Resilient Lives LLC, a home and community-based service provider for Minnesota seniors and those with disabilities. Her biography page says she has 10 years of experience in the field, holds a master's degree in health administration from Governors State University and enjoyed playing Scrabble.

Moore was "just a loving individual," DeCoteau said. "A week before Christmas is a tragedy."

An employee in the Cove's leasing office told the Star Tribune that Moore had lived in the complex for about a year. The contract was in her name and management was unaware of a live-in boyfriend. Staff members were still looking to connect with detectives about the case.

As of Monday morning, Moore's car was absent from the lot.

The shooting shocked residents and staff, who were left wondering what precipitated such violence.

"It's terrible," said Theo Green, a maintenance worker for the Cove tasked with cleaning up the mangled yellow crime scene tape left strewn across the lawn. "This is the first time I've heard of anything wild happening here. This is a quiet area."

Green recalled meeting Moore in passing one day during a previous maintenance check on her sink. She was kind to him and thanked him for his efforts, he said.

On Monday morning, Green returned to Moore's apartment to dispose of a Christmas wreath that apparently fell off her boarded-up door.

"This is just so shocking," he said, pointing to a makeshift memorial outside nearly invisible from the road. There, a small bouquet of daisies sat alongside a simple card, secured by a handful of stones.

"Human Being, Woman, Neighbor," it read. "In remembrance."