Brooklyn Park Man Pleads Guilty in Home Invasion Killing of Zaria McKeever

The Brooklyn Park man accused of plotting a Brooklyn Park home invasion that resulted in the death of his ex-girlfriend has pleaded guilty to the crime.

Erick Haynes, 23, pleaded guilty Monday to aiding and abetting first-degree murder. The plea came just before jury selection for his trial was set to begin.

Zaria McKeever was shot and killed on Nov. 8, 2022 by a Brooklyn Park teenager who Haynes recruited to help carry out the crime.

Court records show Haynes meant to go after McKeever’s new boyfriend at his Brooklyn Park apartment, but it was McKeever, the mother of Haynes’ child, who ended up getting shot and killed.

Photo of Zaria McKeever provided by family

The accused shooter, Foday Kamara, 17, of Brooklyn Park, pleaded guilty last month to aiding and abetting second-degree intentional murder.

Foday was with his older brother, John Kamara, then 17, at the time of the shooting. A plea deal offered by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty to John Kamara sparked outrage from the victim’s family who felt the sentence was too lenient. John Kamara avoided adult prison and is currently serving a two-year sentence at a juvenile correctional facility. 

Following the added scrutiny, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz reassigned the case to Attorney General Keith Ellison.

In addition to Haynes and the Kamara brothers, two others also entered guilty pleas in the case. Haynes’ sister and his brother in-law, Eriana and Tavion James, both entered pleas for aiding Haynes in the aftermath of the crime.

Sentencing for Haynes is scheduled for April 12. He’s expected to receive a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

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