The mass shooting that shattered a birthday gathering at Boom Island Park is now headed toward sentencing. A Minneapolis man accused in the attack pleaded guilty on Friday to second‑degree murder, according to court filings, marking the first major courtroom turn in the high‑profile case. Sentencing is scheduled for July 20, 2026.
Marquez Demar Hill‑Turnipseed entered his plea in Hennepin County on Friday and admitted firing at people and at the vehicle in which a woman was riding, according to KARE 11. The outlet reports that Hill‑Turnipseed pleaded guilty to second‑degree murder and that his sentencing is set for July 20 in Hennepin County District Court.
What Investigators Found At The Scene
The attack unfolded on the evening of June 1, 2025, when a large birthday gathering at the riverfront park came under gunfire. Officers later recovered about 130 spent shell casings and determined that multiple guns had been fired, according to FOX 9. Surveillance video and charging documents described a Dodge Challenger circling the park while a passenger fired into the crowd.
Victim And Ongoing Investigation
Minneapolis police identified the woman who died as 23‑year‑old Stageina Katraya Shapryia Whiting. She was shot while inside a vehicle near the park entrance and later died at Hennepin Healthcare, according to a Minneapolis Police Department press release. The department says the investigation remains active and has urged anyone with information to contact detectives.
Co‑Defendants And Court Calendar
Prosecutors previously charged several other people in the shooting, including Zyere Jakye Porter and Dechelen Chavez Mastin‑Wilson, and court documents describe a gang‑related motive, according to CBS Minnesota. Local reporting and court filings show co‑defendants have upcoming appearances in June as the Hennepin County case moves forward. KARE 11 notes several court dates and future hearings tied to the investigation.
Legal Context And Next Steps
Hill‑Turnipseed also has a prior federal conviction for unlawful possession of a machine gun, a detail that appears in a U.S. Attorney’s Office press release and was raised by prosecutors in filings, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. With the guilty plea now entered, Hennepin County prosecutors are set to present facts and recommendations at the July sentencing hearing, which will determine Hill‑Turnipseed’s punishment.
Community Response
In the wake of the shooting, city officials increased patrols at Boom Island, and neighbors held vigils to mourn Whiting, according to local coverage. Police say tips remain crucial as the case moves toward sentencing and additional court hearings in the coming weeks, and authorities continue to ask anyone with information to contact the Minneapolis Police Department tip line.
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