Governor Walz assigns AG Ellison to take over prosecution in Zaria McKeever murder case

[sarisataka]

Governor Walz assigns AG Ellison to take over prosecution in Zaria McKeever murder case

Governor Walz says he is assigning Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to take over the prosecution for the Zaria McKeever murder case after an outcry from McKeever's family and other over plea deals offered by the Hennepin County Attorney.

In a message on Thursday, Governor Walz announced he would use his authority to assign Ellison's office to the case, following a request by Ellison.

McKeever was killed in November 2022 after police say two teens, under the direction of McKeever's ex-boyfriend Erick Haynes, broke into McKeever's apartment to kill her new boyfriend. However, during the home invasion, police say McKeever was the one shot and killed.

The family of Zaria McKeever and community advocates have begged officials to intervene in the case after two teen suspects were offered plea deals by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty that could have only put them behind bars for two years in a youth facility and probation until they turn 21. Before Moriarty took office in January, former county attorney Mike Freeman was preparing to charge the teens as adults. Moriarity's office reversed course on that.

https://www.fox9.com/news/governor-walz-assigns-ag-ellison-to-take-over-zaria-mckeever-murder-case

[question everything]

1. Good. I am glad I did not vote for Moriarty. Teens brains don't mature until they're 25?

[Ocelot II]

3. I didn't either. I hope her judgment improves - the AG shouldn't have to take over

a prosecution that she fucked up.

[dflprincess]

4. The human brain does not finish developing until age 25

though there is some evidence that female brains finish a bit earlier.

The last part to develop is the prefrontal cortex - the part of the brain that, as we age, makes as think "Whoa - that would be a really dumb thing to do."

It's like the car insurance companies always knew this. Age twenty-five is when rates take a dive.

[question everything]

5. And yet, many of us make a decision at age 18, or 22, that determines the shape and direction

for the rest of our lives.

Most of the car jacking and stealing are done by teens. A dealer of Hyundai and Kia recently had the police finding many vehicles damaged and others running unoccupied perhaps stolen.

A recent Airbnb had a party when an 18 year old "found himself holding a gun" that discharged and killed another teen. And a car stopped for traffic had "two juveniles" running, "discarding handguns.".

All this in the suburbs.

Let them stand trial and let their defense attorney claim that their "immature brains" are to blame.

This is how the Republicans win elections.

[dflprincess]

6. You asked about brain development

I replied with what science is telling us.

Whether that gets used as defense is up to the attorneys and the circunstances of the crime. I'm glad I don't have to make those decisions.

[Ocelot II]

2. Moriarty stepped in it on this one.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. Definitely not a fan of this.

Surprising absolutely no one, I'm sure.