
Officers were called to the 700 block of Jessie Street in Saint Paul, Minnesota Saturday afternoon for an "unknown medical situation." Upon arrival, they were met outside the residence by those that had called 911 and informed that there were injured people inside.
Officers entered the home and found three people suffering from gunshot wounds and called Saint Paul Fire paramedics to the scene.
Once the paramedics arrived, two women, later identified as 30-year-old D’Zondria Wallace and her daughter, 14-year-old La’Porsha, were pronounced deceased at the scene and a third, 11-year-old Ja’Corbie was transported to Regions Hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
Medical examiners have yet to confirm the identities of the deceased, but family has identified them and created a GoFundMe account for assistance with funeral expenses.
"Unfortunately, these types of calls are hard," Sgt. Mike Ernster said during a press conference Saturday evening. "This one in particular is hard for a couple of reasons. It's hard because children died. It's also hard because one of our officers was here an hour before this call."
The officer performing the wellness check made contact with D'Zondria through the door and informed her that family from Tennessee had called expressing concern for her wellbeing.
"He did speak with her and explained why he was there,” Ernster said. “She looked at him and said, 'I’m OK. Tell them I’m OK.'” She declined an offer from the officer to use his cell phone to contact her family, and that was the end of the exchange.
Ernester further disclosed that officers had been to the residence once before on a wellness check. "They were just concerned about her welfare that she could be in danger," he'd said. "Possibly involved a domestic type situation."
Sunday night, officers arrested 26-year-old TeKeith Svyone Jones. He has been booked into the Ramsey County Jail on three charges of murder. His court date is not known.
"This is a senseless tragedy that's left us all heartbroken—as police officers, as human beings, as members of the community," said Saint Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell. "Moments like this are hard and painful. But maybe our city can take a small sense of comfort knowing that their officers are out there working as hard as they can—like they always do—for the victims, for their family and for everyone who cares about our community. And the investigators and officers will continue to work around the clock until they find the person responsible."