Two men already serving time in Minnesota prisons are now accused of gunning down a man on Rice Street in St. Paul, in a 2022 shooting that investigators say unleashed a barrage of gunfire outside a neighborhood bar. The victim was found on the sidewalk late the night of Aug. 31, 2022.
Diontae Keyshawn Moore, 26, and Romello Markell Ifonlaja-Randle, 26, are each charged with second-degree murder, according to FOX 9. The complaint says officers responded shortly before 10 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2022, after multiple 911 callers reported heavy gunfire near Born’s Bar on Rice Street.
The victim was identified as 39-year-old Kenneth Wells of White Bear Township. First responders found him with a gunshot wound to the head and he was pronounced dead at the scene, as reported by KSTP. Surveillance footage and witness accounts described a group standing by a vehicle just before shots rang out, according to the outlet.
What Investigators Say
Police say they tied Moore and Ifonlaja-Randle to the shooting through surveillance video, cellphone data, ballistic evidence and text messages, according to FOX 9. Prosecutors allege a dark SUV linked to the alley where the shots were fired was later found registered to Moore. The complaint states Moore rammed a squad car and ran into a Prior Avenue North building, where officers seized multiple firearms, a drum magazine and a cell phone.
Where They Are Now And What’s Next
Both men were already in Minnesota Department of Corrections custody when the new charges landed. Moore is serving a weapons sentence in Faribault, with an expected release date of Sept. 21, 2026. Ifonlaja-Randle, who pleaded guilty last year in a separate Raspberry Island homicide and was sentenced to more than 32 years, is not due for release until 2043, per KSTP. Under Minnesota law, a conviction for second-degree murder can carry a sentence of up to 40 years, according to Minn. Stat. 609.19.
The cases are now active in Ramsey County court and are expected to move through arraignments and pretrial hearings. This story will be updated as new filings or court dates are posted.
