Mpls. cops: arrest made in grandmother's crossfire killing

Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Minneapolis police said Monday they've made an arrest in the May 26 shooting death of Birdell Beeks, a 58-year-old grandmother who was killed in gang crossfire as she sat in a minivan near the corner of 21st and Penn avenues north.
Beeks, well-known in the neighborhood, was not the intended victim and her death provoked outrage. She died from her wounds at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale. A $10,000 award was offered for information about who killed her.
"This particular death hit our community hard," Mayor Betsy Hodges said at a news conference announcing the arrest.
Police Chief Janee Harteau said she would not yet release the suspect's name because she did want to spark retaliation. The suspect is expected to be charged and be in court for a first appearance on Tuesday.
Beeks' daughter Sa'Lesha Beeks praised police for the arrest, calling it an "amazing feeling to know my mom will have justice."
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Dear reader,
Political debates with family or friends can get heated. But what if there was a way to handle them better?
You can learn how to have civil political conversations with our new e-book!
Download our free e-book, Talking Sense: Have Hard Political Conversations, Better, and learn how to talk without the tension.