Reward offered to help find Quantell Braxton's killer

Minneapolis Police Inspector Mike Martin
Minneapolis Police Department members, including inspector Mike Martin, spoke about the recent murder of 14-year-old Quantell Braxton on the corner of N. Morgan Ave. and N. 17th Ave. in north Minneapolis, Minn. Monday, Aug. 29, 2011.
MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson

Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information in the shooting death of 14-year-old Quantell Braxton.

The boy was killed near a park in north Minneapolis on the night of Aug. 20. Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan is asking anyone who knows anything about the shooting to come forward.

Dolan says that, unlike other young victims in past years, Braxton and his friends were not caught in a crossfire, they were targeted.

"Before this shooting, I'm told that Quantell was playing tag with his friend and two girls on the corner," Dolan said. "Not selling drugs. Not doing what you would call gang activity. Playing tag. That should give you a sense of how young these kids are."

The reward announcement comes on the day Minneapolis students return to school. Police officials say they hope kids who hear something about the shooting will call the anonymous tip line 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).