On April 24, 2026, Elevoun Quinnell Wren, 22, was charged with second-degree intentional murder for the fatal shooting of 22-year-old John William Westly Stroud. The incident occurred on April 22 in the 3300 block of 66th Street West, just outside Southdale Center in Edina. Authorities report that the two men, who were acquaintances, engaged in a physical altercation before Wren allegedly shot Stroud multiple times in the chest.
The shooting caused significant alarm in the community, leading to temporary lockdowns at Southdale Center, M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital, and several nearby schools. While police initially detained four individuals following a pursuit into Minneapolis, three were released after investigators determined they were not the shooters. A search of Wren’s apartment later revealed a handgun and ammunition consistent with the evidence found at the crime scene.
Surveillance footage and witness statements were critical in identifying Wren as the primary suspect. According to the criminal complaint, the video shows Wren standing over the victim during the altercation and firing the weapon. Wren is currently being held at the Hennepin County Jail as legal proceedings begin.
Wren has a notable criminal history that includes involvement in a series of violent incidents as a juvenile. In 2021, Wren was charged and subsequently convicted in juvenile court for his role in a violent armed robbery crew. The crew targeted five different gas stations across the Twin Cities during the pandemic.
During one robbery at a Holiday station in Brooklyn Park in November 2020, a store clerk was shot and paralyzed. His release following the 2020 incident—where a clerk was paralyzed—has been a point of significant public criticism regarding the effectiveness of juvenile rehabilitation for violent offenders.