Two teenagers have been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Dejuan Hemphill in St. Paul. Authorities say Hemphill was walking with his cousins on November 5 when they were unknowingly being followed by two suspects.
On Thursday, St. Paul police SWAT officers arrested Kenneth E. Terry, 18, and Jehovah M. Nelson, 19, unsealing murder charges against them. Investigators believe jealousy may have played a role in the attack, as a woman previously involved with Terry had been spending time with Hemphill’s cousin’s younger brother.
The Shooting and Investigation
Police responded to gunshots near University Avenue and Rice Street around 4:55 p.m. and found Hemphill lying on the sidewalk. He was rushed to Regions Hospital, where he fought for his life but passed away on November 15. Surveillance footage showed Terry and Nelson following Hemphill and his cousins just before the attack.
Additional evidence linked the suspects to the crime. On November 8, a separate incident led police to a GMC Terrain, where they found Nelson’s school ID and a white Michael Myers mask—similar to the one worn by the shooter. Cellphone data and social media activity also implicated the suspects.
Both teens are charged with aiding and abetting murder and attempted murder. Their first court appearance is scheduled for Friday.
Hemphill leaves behind a four-month-old son, whose life will now be shaped by this tragedy
