Federal grand jury indicts violence prevention workers on Minneapolis felony gun charges

Kashmir Khaliffa McReynolds and Alvin Anthony Watkins Jr. face federal felony gun charges after firing approximately 43 shots in a Minneapolis neighborhood on March 10. The pair was previously shot at while working for the nonprofit 21 Days of Peace, which focuses on violence prevention. McReynolds suffered non-life-threatening injuries, prompting him to return fire after seeking cover. Rev.

Jerry McAfee, the organization’s leader, criticized the federal charges against his employees and questioned law enforcement's failure to locate the original shooter. McReynolds had a permit for his firearm but lacked a license to act as an armed bodyguard, complicating the legal situation. The nonprofit has secured around $1. 6 million in contracts for violence prevention work, with lawmakers earmarking an additional $3 million for 2023-2024. This incident raises serious concerns about the accountability of violence prevention workers and their operational guidelines.

The situation underscores the challenges faced by organizations attempting to quell urban violence amidst ongoing gunfire incidents.