Family Of Man Shot Dead In Mpls Talks Of His Life, Death

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Thirty-three-year-old Jason Youngmark suffered a fatal gunshot wound last Saturday at 26th Avenue and Emerson Avenue in North Minneapolis.

His family says he had stopped by to say hello to friends. Youngmark's wife and sister said he was active in the community and just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

"I'm just kind of getting by still," said Stacy Davis, Youngmark's wife. "It's still surreal to me that this has happened, but I know it has and I just have to deal with it one step at a time for my kids. I'm their only parent now."

Davis has seven children between the ages of 1 and 10. And three of the children are autistic.

"They're all handling it okay, but I don't know how exactly what they're going through inside. I only hope they're okay," Davies said.

Youngmark's youngest sister, Rose, said he put a lot of value into his family.

"He wasn't just having kids," she said. "He was there for them: to teach them, to love them, to guide them."

Rose said Youngmark wasn't involved with gangs, drinking or drugs.

"He was a good guy," she said.

The women have a notepad that Youngmark kept with him. It was full of ideas for the future. The notes speak on the importance of God and family. They also touch on ideas such as a community garden and affordable housing.

"He cared, he made an impact on people -- on anyone he touched," Rose said. "You will never hear anybody say he deserved what happened; it's just not even fathomable."

No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. The family, however, says Youngmark and the gunman knew each other. They say Youngmark mentored his shooter.

For information on a vigil in Youngmark's honor, click here: http://www.thebuildingblocks.org/

Sonya Goins, Producer
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