AG Ellison Takes Over Prosecution of Zaria McKeever Murder Case

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has assigned the state's top prosecutor, Attorney General Keith Ellison, to handle the case of Zaria McKeever, who was shot and killed in a Brooklyn Park apartment in November 2022. Two adults and two juveniles agreed to plead guilty to McKeever's death after Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty offered plea deals to keep them in the juvenile system rather than adult court. Moriarty's move drew criticism from many in the community, and the Minnesota Police Association called for state intervention. Ellison requested the assignment, which Walz granted, citing the strong opposition of McKeever's family and the community to the plea deals. Moriarty called Ellison's request "deeply troubling," adding that it "should alarm prosecutors across the state."