The Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced on May 1 that it has completed the last prosecution related to the November 2022 murder of Zaria McKeever, following the sentencing of Valesha Parker. Parker received a sentence of 364 days in jail and a stayed prison term of 50 months for five years after admitting to lying to law enforcement and helping her son, Erick Haynes, who orchestrated the killing.
This development marks the conclusion of legal proceedings against all adult defendants involved in McKeever’s death. The case stems from an incident where McKeever, age 23, was shot and killed in a Brooklyn Park home. Authorities say Haynes sent two juveniles into an apartment armed with guns to kill McKeever’s new boyfriend; during this attempt, they shot McKeever five times. Afterward, those involved fled the scene and were aided by Eriana Haynes, Tavion James, and Valesha Parker.
“Nothing and no one can return Zaria McKeever to her family, her young daughter, and our community. I think about her and her loved ones often and I hope this final sentencing provides them and the whole community with a sense of accountability,” Attorney General Keith Ellison said. “I want to thank the family for their partnership in holding accountable the people responsible for Zaria’s murder, and I want to thank the entire team in my office who diligently pursued justice for her. We all continue to feel the loss of Zaria and will always remember her.”
Parker is reported as being the last among five adult defendants sentenced for their roles in connection with Ms. McKeever’s murder.
Ellison also thanked both Brooklyn Park Police Department—which led the investigation—and Minneapolis Police Department—for assisting immediately after—in achieving successful prosecutions.
