Police Serve Warrant in Connection to St Paul November 2024 Homicide
BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA— We have learned that the police activity on January 1, 2025, at the Cedar Commons Apartments in Bloomington, Minnesota, was connected to a search warrant at an apartment as part of an ongoing homicide investigation tied to a shooting in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Bloomington Emergency Response Unit (ERU) assisted the St. Paul Police Department (SPPD) in serving the warrant at 8680 Old Cedar Ave S. The operation stemmed from a homicide that occurred on November 22, 2024, in the 600 block of Aurora Avenue in St. Paul. The victim, identified as 26-year-old Andre Lorenzo Mitchell of Minneapolis, MN, suffered fatal gunshot wounds to his upper body and was pronounced dead while en route to Regions Hospital, according to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Background on the November 22, 2024 Homicide
On November 22, 2024, Officers from the St. Paul Police Department responded around 9:45 p.m. to reports of gunfire in the 600 block of Aurora Avenue, a residential area in the Summit-University neighborhood in St. Paul, Minnesota. Upon arrival, officers located Andre Lorenzo Mitchell suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Despite immediate medical intervention, Mitchell succumbed to his injuries en route to Regions Hospital.
At the time of the shooting, Mitchell was parked outside an apartment building waiting to pick up the mother of his child. A driver in a dark SUV reportedly pulled up beside Mitchell’s vehicle, and individuals inside the SUV opened fire. Mitchell’s 2-month-old child and 5-year-old sister were in the back seat at the time. The 5-year-old reportedly shielded the baby with her body during the shooting. While the baby was unharmed, the car seat was found with a bullet hole, and shattered glass was scattered throughout the vehicle.
Investigators documented at least 13 bullet holes on the driver’s side of Mitchell’s vehicle and several shattered windows. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as Mitchell and a passenger in his car attempted to flee but were ultimately struck by gunfire. Mitchell succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Charges Filed
Four individuals have been charged in connection to the shooting: 23-year-old Jasmine Rawls, 22-year-old Malik Rawls, 23-year-old Jarvis Sanders, and 25-year-old Steven Rawls Jr. Each faces charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder, including charges related to a drive-by shooting.
According to court documents, Jasmine Rawls had contacted police earlier in the day to report threats made against her by a group of women. She later informed her brothers, Malik and Steven, about the threats. The complaint alleges that the Rawls brothers, Sanders, and another unidentified individual drove to the scene in a dark SUV and opened fire on Mitchell’s vehicle. The shooting, investigators say, targeted the wrong individuals, as neither Mitchell nor his passengers were involved in the earlier dispute.
Execution of the Warrant
On December 26, 2024, St. Paul Police requested assistance from Bloomington ERU to execute the warrant. Early on January 1, SPPD investigators informed Bloomington police that primary suspects linked to the homicide were believed to be present at the Old Cedar Avenue address. The Bloomington ERU immediately mobilized and conducted a detailed briefing before deploying to the scene.
The operation included:
Tactical Teams: Multiple officers and K9 units from Bloomington Police Department.
Specialized Units: Drone operators and a Bearcat Armored Rescue Vehicle.
Perimeter Security: Additional patrol units and detectives ensured the area was secured.
The warrant was served at 10:52 a.m. All five occupants of the apartment were safely detained without incident and turned over to SPPD detectives. The apartment was cleared of any additional occupants, deemed safe, and subsequently handed over to SPPD investigators.
Written by: Will Wight
