Star Tribune
Man found guilty of ‘callous’ murder near St. Paul light rail
A man was convicted of first-degree murder this week for what prosecutors called a “particularly callous” shooting at a St. Paul light-rail platform, where the victim was left to die.
A Ramsey County jury found Shawn Tillman, 35, guilty of first and second-degree murder, and unlawful possession of a firearm Monday for the 2022 shooting of Demitri Ellis-Strong, 37. Tillman was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release. The state also dismissed four cases pending against Tillman which charged him with aggravated robberies and assault with a deadly weapon in the weeks leading to Ellis-Strong’s murder.
The verdict ends a two-week trial where prosecutors tied Tillman to Ellis-Strong’s 2022 shooting death on a light rail platform in downtown St. Paul. They called the murder “particularly callous.”
“Yesterday’s verdict brought some relief and a measure of justice to the victim’s family and our community,” said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. “We are grateful to the Metro Transit Police investigators, as well as our prosecutors for their tireless work to bring this case to a successful conclusion.”
According to charging documents, Tillman and Ellis-Strong had “a beef” with each other that escalated on May 20, 2022. Tillman approached Ellis-Strong on a light rail platform that morning and shot him multiple times as he tried protecting himself. Tillman fired again and fled the scene when Ellis-Strong stopped moving.
He died minutes after police arrived. An autopsy by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s determined Ellis-Strong was shot six times before he bled to death. Authorities arrested Tillman the next day after surveillance footage and DNA evidence suggested he shot Ellis-Strong.
As Tillman was sentenced Monday, Ellis-Strong’s sister shared a statement remembering him as a man who loved his family and leaves multiple relatives who miss him. Metro Transit Police Chief Ernest Morales III shared condolences with Ellis-Strong’s family in a statement released Tuesday.
“Mr. Tillman committed the most heinous of crimes and we are pleased that justice was served. I want to applaud the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office for their partnership and diligent work to reach this outcome,” Morales’ statement read. “I also want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Ellis-Strong. While this does not ease the pain of losing a loved one in such a tragic manner, I hope the assurance that his killer will remain behind bars for the rest of his life will bring a small sense of closure.”
Ellis-Strong’s death marked the 18th homicide in St. Paul that year.
Star Tribune staff writer Janet Moore contributed to this report.
“This is an area that swings back and forth depending on the election cycle, and it’s an area that really can deliver those decisive votes for candidates in a statewide election,” said Anthony Chergosky, a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political science professor. “If the Harris-Walz ticket can develop a brand that helps them stop the party’s slide in rural Wisconsin, then that will massively help their path to victory.”
Both presidential campaigns have spent considerable time in Wisconsin. Trump recently visited the state four times in a span of eight days. Harris held rallies in La Crosse and Green Bay earlier this month, and Walz made stops in Eau Claire, Green Bay and Madison. Walz told a crowd gathered at a “Students for Harris-Walz” event in Eau Claire that “it’s very realistic to believe that this race will be won going through Wisconsin.”
Though both campaigns have made frequent visits to the Badger State, their stops appear to be geared toward shoring up their respective bases, retired GOP strategist Brandon Scholz said.
“I think Tim Walz’s job right now in Wisconsin, from what he’s saying and where he’s going and what he’s doing, is, ‘let’s make sure 99 percent of our voters turn out, because we need every single one of them because of how close Wisconsin is,’” Scholz said. “To date, neither he nor Harris have communicated a message to bring in those undecideds, ticket splitters.”
Ryan O’Gara is one of those undecideds. The 47-year-old Christian conservative lives in the village of Downing, some 20 miles northwest of Menomonie and home to about 230 people. O’Gara said he sees mostly Trump signs around his town, but he isn’t a fan of either nominee and likely will sit out this election.
Asked what he thought of Walz, O’Gara referred to him as “far-left.” He said he disagrees with allowing gender-affirming health care services for minors. Walz signed a bill into law last year making Minnesota a refuge for people seeking gender-affirming care.
But then, they were Lutherans.
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“It’s time for a hostage deal and cease-fire that ensures Israel is secure, all hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, freedom, and self-determination,” Walz said on this year’s anniversary of Hamas’ 2023 attacks on Israel.
Polls indicate Minnesota will likely break for Harris, but in states where margins will be much tighter, some protest voters are choosing to vote for Harris despite their reservations.
Roman Fritz of Oconomowoc, Wis., voted early for Harris on Wednesday, he said, even though he remains deeply frustrated with her stance on the war.
Neither he nor Engelhart want to see Trump win. The Uncommitted National Movement has been trying to carve out a middle ground between opposing Trump and supporting Harris, with leaders saying a Trump presidency would be worse for Palestinians, and warning that votes for third-party candidates could result in a win for Trump. But the group declined to offer its endorsement to Harris.
Similarly, Fritz said, he did not feel he should talk his friends into voting for Harris, especially Palestinian American friends who have lost loved ones in Gaza.
“I do want her to win,” Fritz said, but, “I’m not going to campaign for her.”
