A 25-year-old Maple Grove man has agreed to plead guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the killing of a 17-year-old girl in Brooklyn Park last summer, bringing a high-profile shooting case a step closer to closure. The plea, entered this week, stems from a July 1, 2025 shooting that left the teenager fatally wounded. Authorities identified the defendant as Melchizedek Erastuscorboi Kpaan, who was later tracked across state lines and arrested in Ohio.
According to CBS Minnesota, Kpaan was initially charged with second-degree intentional murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm before reaching a deal to plead to first-degree manslaughter. Court documents state that officers responded to a 911 call near 70th Avenue North and Lakeland Avenue North on the night of July 1, and that the victim was taken to a hospital where she later died. The plea agreement surfaced in recent court filings and subsequent local reporting.
Video and Investigators' Findings
Surveillance footage described in the criminal complaint allegedly shows Kpaan walking with a backpack, tossing it at the teen and then firing a gun, according to CCX Media. The complaint says the girl then pulls a firearm from her waistband but does not fire it.
The same footage reportedly shows the suspect running from the scene, taking off a blue sweater and throwing it into a dumpster. Investigators later recovered that sweater. Charging documents also say data from the girl's cellphone indicated she had been exchanging messages with Kpaan in the period leading up to the encounter.
Arrest and Victim Identity
Investigators arrested Kpaan in North Ridgeville, Ohio, in mid-July after tracking him out of state. Earlier coverage identified the victim as 17-year-old Zoe Kpanlin, who was shot just days before her 18th birthday, and noted that family members set up online fundraising efforts to help cover funeral costs, according to KSTP. That reporting also described the shooting scene as being in the 7000 block of Lakeland Avenue North in Brooklyn Park.
What the Charge Means
Under Minnesota law, manslaughter in the first degree applies to killings that occur in the heat of passion or under certain other defined circumstances. The offense carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $30,000. The elements and penalties are set out in Minnesota Statutes section 609.20.
Public reporting on the plea has not detailed whether prosecutors are recommending a specific sentence or outlining other terms of the deal. Those particulars are expected to be laid out in court filings and at upcoming hearings. Hennepin County court records and additional local coverage will likely provide more clarity on what happens next, according to CBS Minnesota.
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