Final three defendants plead guilty in Minnesota murder case taken away from local prosecutor

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The final three people accused in the killing of a young mother have pleaded guilty in a rare situation where Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz took the he case away from Hennepin County prosecutors and handed it to Attorney General Keith Ellison amid public criticism that the original plea deal was too lenient. In a plea agreement, Erick Haynes pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder in the 2022 death of Zaria McKeever. Eriana Haynes and Tavion James pleaded guilty Monday (April 1, 2024) to one count each of aiding an offender after the fact for helping to cover up the shooting. First-degree murder in Minnesota carries a mandatory life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years.