Friends of St. Paul barber Gabriel “Gabe” Arrazola Perez say the shock has not lifted since he was found dead between railroad tracks near Case Avenue on Memorial Day. The 44-year-old barbershop owner, a proud member of both the Latino and LGBTQ communities, was killed in what those close to him describe as a brutal, bloody attack. As days go by without an arrest or clear explanation, frustration is building over what loved ones see as a slow investigation and a painful lack of answers.
Scene and police account
Officers were called just after 11 a.m. on Memorial Day after a passerby spotted a man lying between the tracks near the 1400 block of Case Avenue, according to KSTP. First responders found injuries consistent with an edged weapon, and police opened a homicide investigation. So far, authorities have not announced any arrests. Investigators say they are reviewing surveillance footage and canvassing the neighborhood for clues, trying to retrace Arrazola Perez’s final steps.
Friends say they’re owed answers
Friends told CBS Minnesota that the victim was Gabriel Arrazola Perez and described him as joyful, creative, and deeply rooted in Mexican art and culture. “None of us deserve a death like the way Gabriel died,” friend Maryanne Quiroz said, adding that some people who were with him on the last day he was seen have not been contacted by investigators. Loved ones say they fear his killing may have been driven by anti-Latino or anti-LGBTQ bias, a possibility that has only heightened anxiety in the community. Police, however, have not publicly characterized the case as a hate crime.
Community response and investigation
Local outlets report a GoFundMe has been launched to help return Arrazola Perez’s body to Oaxaca and to support his family. Fellow barbers, clients, and friends have been sharing memories and tributes both online and in person, remembering him as authentic and welcoming behind the chair. Bring Me The News notes the fundraiser and that Arrazola Perez owned Barbers on Bryant in Minneapolis, a shop that has become an informal memorial as people stop in to mourn. St. Paul police are asking anyone with information or video from the Johnson Parkway–Case Avenue area to call the department’s homicide tip line at 651-266-5650, according to FOX 9.
Next steps and context
Investigators say the case remains active and, as of this week, have not released additional details. Friends say only a few tips have trickled in and that the absence of public updates has forced them to speculate about what happened. The killing marked St. Paul’s fifth homicide of the year, as officers continue to canvass the neighborhood and review video to build a clearer timeline of the hours before Arrazola Perez was found, per KSTP. Anyone with information or video that might help is urged to contact the St. Paul Police Department’s homicide tip line or share footage directly with investigators.
