Man fatally shot Monday in Minneapolis is identified

Alex Chhith, Star Tribune
·1 min read

A man found fatally shot early Monday on a sidewalk at the intersection of Elliott and Franklin avenues in south Minneapolis has been identified.

Willie Tounzell Smith, 48, died of a gunshot wound to the head, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office said Thursday. He died at 1:20 a.m. Monday.

Smith's body was found by police officers shortly after a woman was struck by a driver who then made a U-turn with someone inside the vehicle fatally shooting Smith before fleeing the scene, according to police.

Smith's death marked the city's 27th homicide of the year. To date there have been 28 homicides in Minneapolis in 2021, the latest the shooting death of a 6-year-old girl.

Alex Chhith • 612-673-4759

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