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.