Man gets life sentence for killing of Brooklyn Park woman Zaria McKeever

Krystal Frasier KSTP

Man gets life sentence for killing of Brooklyn Park woman Zaria McKeever

Man gets life sentence for killing of Brooklyn Park woman Zaria McKeever

A man charged in the fatal 2022 shooting of a Brooklyn Park mother has been ordered to spend several decades behind bars.

Friday, a judge sentenced 23-year-old Erick Haynes to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years for the murder of Zaria McKeever.

McKeever, 23, was shot and killed in her apartment in 2022.

As reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS just last week, three people — including Haynes — pleaded guilty to their roles in the case. In total, five people were charged in connection to McKeever’s death, with Haynes catching the most serious charge for being the alleged mastermind behind her murder.

RELATED: Woman killed, 5 arrested in overnight Brooklyn Park shooting

Court documents say in November 2022, McKeever was in an apartment with her new boyfriend when two teens kicked down the door. One of those teens then fired multiple shots, killing McKeever.

The armed teens later told police that Haynes had given them the gun and told them to shoot McKeever’s new boyfriend.

Haynes and McKeever had previously dated and shared a 1-year-old child together. Court documents go on to say Haynes had been harassing McKeever by phone and in person for weeks leading up to her death.

Last April, a rare move was made in the case, when Gov. Tim Walz took this case away from Hennepin County Prosecutors and handed it to Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office, saying the county’s plea deal offered to the two teen gunmen was too lenient.

RELATED: Walz intervenes, assigns AG Ellison to handle Zaria McKeever murder case

“I don’t want hate to be in my heart and I certainly don’t want it in the heart of my family,” Paul Greer, McKeever’s stepfather, said outside the courthouse on Friday.

However, it was an emotional and difficult day for the family.

“The impact on me, my family, is so profound that our lives will never be the same,” McKeever’s mother, Maria Greer, said.

McKeever’s father, Presly McKeever, added, “Instead of cherishing protecting and keeping her safe, he brought evil to her doorstep.”

Haynes offered just a four-second statement in court before his sentencing.

“I just want to say I’m sorry to the family of Ms. McKeever,” he said.