ST. PAUL, MN — A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for his involvement in a deadly drive-by shooting that claimed the life of a young father who investigators say had absolutely no connection to the dispute that led to the violence. Steven Rawls Jr. was convicted of one count of second-degree aiding and abetting murder and three counts of second-degree attempted murder in connection with the November 22, 2024, shooting near the Rondo Community Library in St. Paul. The victim, 26-year-old Andre Lorenzo Mitchell, was sitting inside a Mazda sedan with his 2-month-old baby, his 5-year-old sister, and another 26-year-old man when multiple individuals opened fire on the vehicle. Investigators determined that Mitchell and the other occupants were not involved in the earlier confrontation that authorities believe motivated the shooting. A 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL SHIELDED A BABY AS GUNFIRE STRUCK THEIR VEHICLE According to the criminal complaint, Mitchell was waiting near the intersection of Aurora Avenue and Dale Street to pick up the mother of his child from work when a black SUV approached. Several occupants of the SUV allegedly began firing into the Mazda. Investigators later documented at least 13 bullet holes in the vehicle. Despite the extensive damage, Mitchell was the only person physically struck by the gunfire. He suffered fatal injuries. Inside the back seat, two young children were caught in the terrifying situation. The 5-year-old girl later told investigators that when the shooting began, she instinctively covered the 2-month-old baby with her own body as the vehicle’s windows shattered around them. Investigators discovered a bullet hole in the infant’s car seat, which was also covered in broken glass. Neither child was physically injured. The little girl’s actions may have helped protect the baby during a moment of unimaginable danger. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE WRONG VEHICLE WAS TARGETED Court documents reveal that the shooting followed an unrelated confrontation involving Jasmine Rawls, the sister of Steven Rawls Jr. Approximately 20 minutes before the shooting, St. Paul police had responded to Jasmine’s apartment after she reported being threatened by several women. According to the complaint, the disagreement began after Jasmine allowed a cousin of her child’s father to stay at her apartment. An argument reportedly developed over a phone charger, resulting in Jasmine asking the woman to leave. The woman’s mother subsequently arrived with two other women to help retrieve her belongings. Investigators said at least one of the women was legally carrying a firearm. The confrontation escalated into threats, prompting Jasmine to contact police. Authorities believe the disagreement ultimately set off a series of events that led to the deadly shooting. However, investigators determined that Mitchell and the people inside his vehicle were not connected to the dispute. SURVEILLANCE VIDEO AND PHONE RECORDS HELPED IDENTIFY SUSPECTS According to the criminal complaint, two Wright County sheriff’s deputies were in an unmarked vehicle nearby shortly before the shooting. The deputies reportedly observed four individuals exit a white sedan and enter a black SUV. Moments later, gunfire erupted. The deputies initially believed they were being targeted and drove away from the immediate area. Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage and identified the black SUV as a Mitsubishi Outlander registered to Steven Rawls Jr. Video evidence reportedly showed five people inside the SUV, with four occupants firing toward Mitchell’s vehicle while a front-seat passenger ducked down. Cellphone location records placed Steven Rawls Jr. and Malik Rawls, another of Jasmine’s brothers, near the scene. Investigators also examined telephone communications involving Jasmine and Malik before the shooting. According to the complaint, Malik had reportedly been told that armed individuals were at his sister’s apartment. A witness who drove several people from Bloomington to St. Paul told investigators that Malik had been discussing how many people were present and whether they were armed. Jasmine denied arranging an attack and told investigators she had shared screenshots of threatening messages with her brothers. She also denied knowing that they were coming to protect her. When shown a photograph of Mitchell, Jasmine reportedly did not recognize him. Investigators noted that Mitchell was not from the neighborhood and had no known enemies connected to the incident. The criminal complaint concluded that the group had traveled to Jasmine’s apartment building and opened fire on a vehicle occupied by people who had nothing to do with the earlier confrontation. FOUR PEOPLE CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHOOTING Steven Rawls Jr., Jasmine Rawls, Malik Rawls, and Jarvis Sanders were each initially charged with two counts of second-degree aiding and abetting murder and six counts of second-degree attempted murder. Steven was ultimately convicted of one count of second-degree aiding and abetting murder and three counts of second-degree attempted murder. The remaining charges against him were dismissed. He has now been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for his role in the shooting. The provided information does not establish the current court outcomes for Jasmine Rawls, Malik Rawls, or Jarvis Sanders. A FATHER LOST HIS LIFE WHILE HIS CHILDREN WERE JUST FEET AWAY What makes this case especially heartbreaking is that Andre Lorenzo Mitchell was simply waiting to pick someone up from work. He was sitting in a vehicle with his infant child, his young sister, and another adult when a dispute involving people he reportedly did not know brought deadly violence directly to them. His 5-year-old sister was forced to experience something no child should ever have to witness, shielding a baby as gunfire struck the vehicle around them. A 2-month-old child survived a shooting that left a bullet hole in the car seat. And a 26-year-old father never made it home. While the prison sentence represents a measure of accountability, it cannot undo the loss experienced by Mitchell’s family or erase what the surviving children endured. Andre Lorenzo Mitchell was 26 years old. He was a father, a brother, and a man whose life was taken in a shooting investigators say was directed at the wrong vehicle. His family is left to live with the consequences of a confrontation in which he had no involvement. Minnesota Now | St. Paul, Minnesota