On Friday, one of the men convicted in the 1992 execution of Minneapolis police officer Jerry Haaf is once again up for parole.
Amwati “Pepi” McKenzie, who was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the execution of Haaf at a local pizza restaurant more than three decades ago, will have a parole hearing on Friday.
In an email obtained by Alpha News, the Minneapolis Police Federation called on current and retired officers to attend in support of the Haaf family, who will be present at the hearing in opposition to granting McKenzie parole.
Haaf’s daughter, Cindy Benson, spoke out in a 2022 interview with Alpha News, urging the public to contact the Department of Corrections and oppose McKenzie’s release.
“This was a purposely done execution,” Benson said.
Haaf was on his overnight shift on Sept. 25, 1992, taking a break at Pizza Shack when two members of the Vice Lords gang walked in and shot him in the back multiple times. He died at the hospital hours later, just months from retirement.
“The suspects knew police frequented the Pizza Shack and went there with the intention to kill an officer, any officer. The shooting was a result of growing tension between police and the street gang, the Vice Lords,” the Minneapolis Police Department said in 2021.
Four Vice Lords gang members were convicted, including McKenzie and another, Shannon Bowles, who “were the triggermen,” Benson said.
“[McKenzie’s] never apologized to us or the community,” Benson said in 2022. “He’s always said he turned himself in because he was not involved … now they dangle parole and he says, ‘Well, oh yeah, something bad happened. I’m trying to make up for it.’ Which is it?”
Benson referenced Attorney General Keith Ellison’s ties to Sharif Willis, who was never charged in connection to Haaf’s execution. However, two people, including one of Haaf’s killers, testified at trial that Willis “ordered and planned” the murder, according to the Pioneer Press. Willis’ nephew was sent to prison for his role as a getaway driver. Willis denied any involvement in a 2019 interview with the Star Tribune.
Ellison spoke at a rally organized by Willis after Haaf was killed and later represented him in a case where he held 12 people at gunpoint in a Minneapolis gas station.
“And it’s true, it was about color, but it wasn’t black and white—he was simply shot because of the color of his shirt. He was shot because he was a cop. He wore a blue shirt,” Benson said.
“In Minnesota, when you’re sentenced to life, it’s not life,” she added. “We were sentenced to life. We’ll never get our father back.”
Under a law passed after Haaf’s murder, anyone convicted of killing a police officer in Minnesota is now sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. But that statute wasn’t in place when Haaf was murdered, meaning his killers remain eligible for review.
“Amwati Pepi Mckenzie is going to be seen by the Supervised Release Board tomorrow. He is eligible to be considered for parole on his life sentence,” Aaron Swanum with the Minnesota Department of Corrections said in a statement to Alpha News. “However, he has a 15-month consecutive sentence yet to serve if the Board would grant him parole. Under Minnesota statute, for that sentence, he would be required to serve 2/3 of that sentence incarcerated, with the remaining time on supervised release.”
Mckenzie’s parole was denied in 2022.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
