Two men working under the auspices of a Minneapolis community violence prevention group have been charged with weapons offenses after an exchange of gunfire in north Minneapolis last week that left one of them injured.
The incident unfolded at one of the most violent intersections in Minneapolis just after 9:30 p.m. last Monday, March 10, when police were dispatched to multiple Shotspotter activations indicating dozens of shots fired near 36th and Penn Avenue North, according to police scanner audio. Shotspotter is an automated technology that notifies local 911 operators about gunshots fired in the area.
Within minutes, police were dispatched to a report of a shooting where the injured party was in a vehicle a few blocks away at 44th and Penn Avenue North.
According to further police scanner audio, police indicated that the injured party told them he was a security guard and confirmed that he’d been shot near 36th and Penn Avenue and had returned gunfire. Police also indicated that there were two guns in the vehicle with the injured party, who was subsequently transported by EMS to an area hospital.
Police indicated that a nearby residence had also been struck by gunfire, and the Minneapolis Police Crime Lab was requested to the scene. Later reports stated that a bullet had entered a child’s bedroom, but no one was injured.
Within an hour after the shooting, Rev. Jerry McAfee posted on Facebook saying, “one of my guys was hit,” and said his “team” was “finishing up” when shots rang out. McAfee is the founder of nonprofit organization 21 Days of Peace, a “violence interrupter” style group founded in the months following the death of George Floyd. McAfee’s group has received millions of dollars in funding from sources including the Minnesota legislature and the City of Minneapolis to carry out so-called violence prevention activities. McAfee is also the pastor at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in north Minneapolis.
McAfee followed up the next day with a Facebook livestream during which he indicated that there had been a community barbecue at the location and “Kash,” the injured party, had been at the event as part of McAfee’s team. McAfee said that Kash had been wearing a bullet resistant vest when he was shot in the chest and neck. McAfee also insisted that his team doesn’t carry guns while acting on behalf of the group, but said those who are licensed have the right to carry when they’re off work.
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Gunshot AUDIO from the exchange of gunfire at 36th and Penn, where Jerry's guy said he fired back.https://t.co/ByffoO0jVu— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) March 11, 2025
On Friday, McAfee made another social media post saying that Kash had been arrested and booked following his interview with police.
On Monday, felony charges were filed in Hennepin County District Court against Kashmir Khaliffa McReynolds, 35, for reckless discharge of a firearm and aiding/abetting felon in possession of a firearm.
Also charged was co-defendant Alvin Anthony Watkins, Jr., 50, who was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and reckless discharge of a firearm.
The criminal complaint confirms that McReynolds was shot in the shoulder and was grazed in the neck by gunfire. McReynolds also told police that he never saw the shooters when he was returning gunfire.
The complaint details that portions of the shootout were captured on surveillance video that showed a crowd of people behind 3559 Penn Avenue, who ran toward Penn Avenue after the first shots were fired, including Watkins. McReynolds was seen lying on the ground near a tree stump firing his firearm approximately eight seconds after the initial shots were fired. Thirty-seven seconds after that, McReynolds fired multiple times again. The video shows McReynolds get up off of the ground and run toward Queen Avenue.
Watkins was then seen returning to the address on Penn Avenue, where McReynolds was heard on the video telling Watkins, “Grab my chop” multiple times. The complaint states that “Chop” is a reference to a firearm. Watkins responded, “Where is it at?” McReynolds answered that it was in the backseat, and told Watkins to “Load the b—ch!” The video shows that once McReynolds made it to Queen Avenue, he fired again multiple times about one minute and 20 seconds after the initial shots were fired. Watkins then fired McReynolds’ second firearm multiple times immediately after McReynolds shot from the intersection in the location in the alley. The two then proceeded to their respective vehicles and Watkins fired again. The two then left the scene in their respective vehicles.
McReynolds made multiple statements to police during questioning, including stating that he worked for a community group as armed security and that he has a “conceal and carry” permit, holds a private detective card, and has firearms training.
McReynolds also told police that he had just “clocked out” from the community group activity when the shooting began. He also told police that he was aware that Watkins was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions.
McReynolds told police that he heard the shooting erupt and felt that he was shot in the neck. He said after briefly lying on the ground, he walked between cars and houses while returning fire in the direction of the muzzle flashes. This version contradicted what was observed on surveillance video with McReynolds firing his gun while he was on the ground, the complaint said. McReynolds said after firing 20 rounds, he reloaded and ran toward 36th and Queen Avenue to “catch the shooter(s).” McReynolds again fired his gun multiple times toward an abandoned house, despite not seeing any shooters in that area.
McReynolds ultimately admitted to police that he never saw the shooter(s) when he was shooting and was just shooting in the general direction he believed they may have been located. McReynolds further admitted that he knew from training that he was required to stop firing when the other person stops firing or turns their back, and that he had a duty to retreat. He also admitted that he told Watkins to retrieve his other gun.
The complaint details that Shotspotter indicated that at least 65 rounds were fired, with the initial burst of 30 indicated as automatic gunfire. Further investigation revealed that three other separate bursts of gunfire totaling 27 rounds in just over a minute were fired by McReynolds, who was using a Ruger 5.7 pistol, and eight more rounds were fired by Watkins, who was using a .22 caliber handgun.
A January 2023 report by KSTP named Watkins as a member of McAfee’s 21 Days of Peace. As recently as July 2023, Watkins was convicted on a felony charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Watkins would be in prison today had his 60-month prison sentence not been stayed in a downward departure by Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill. Watkins was instead sentenced to three days of time already served and was placed on probation for three years—until July of 2026. Watkins also has a history of convictions on weapons, drugs, and various levels of assault.
McReynolds remains in custody on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Tuesday.
Jail records show that Watkins was booked into custody late Monday evening. A court date for Watkins was not immediately available.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
