Murder in St. Paul: The Death of Shaniya Destinae Thompson — What We Know

By Yasmin Chaudhary— The Inkwell Times

St. Paul — On a winter afternoon in mid-December, 29-year-old Shaniya Destinae Thompson was found dead in an apartment on Broadway Street in St. Paul’s Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood. Police say Thompson was shot in the head; the investigation quickly painted a chilling portrait of domestic violence, a shattered household, and children who were abruptly left to the care of relatives after a man prosecutors now accuse of killing their mother fled the state and crossed into Canada. 

This article compiles the public record, witness accounts and police filings to explain what happened, who is charged, and what the case reveals about intimate-partner violence, accountability, and the urgent needs of survivors and children caught in its wake.

The scene and the victim

Police were called to an apartment in the 500 block of Broadway Street after a report of a shooting; officers found Thompson unresponsive inside and later determined she had been shot the previous day. Family members and neighbors describe her as a devoted mother of five who was active in her community; her sister told reporters Thompson “was the light in any room.” The Ramsey County Medical Examiner identified her as 29 years old. 

A GoFundMe set up by family members and public tributes reflect a common refrain: Thompson had “so much more to give” and was remembered as a loving parent. Those memorials underscore the human loss behind the headlines.

The suspect, the alleged flight, and the arrest

Ramsey County charging documents and subsequent reporting identify 33-year-old Wesley Bendict Koboi as the chief suspect. Authorities allege Koboi shot Thompson in their St. Paul apartment and then transported the couple’s children to a relative in Michigan before leaving the country. Police say Koboi crossed into Canada on foot and later attempted to fly to Mexico; he was arrested by Toronto police at Pearson International Airport. Koboi is charged in Ramsey County District Court with second-degree murder and related offenses. 

Police accounts and a probable cause affidavit describe a volatile recent history between the two. Neighbors told reporters that an argument on July Fourth in a shared community space had escalated and involved a firearm; in the days before the shooting, officers and family members had concerns expressed about the relationship. Those details have not yet been litigated in court but appear in investigative reporting and the criminal complaint.

What the charges say — and what they don’t yet prove

Koboi’s arrest and second-degree murder charges reflect prosecutors’ assertion that the shooting was intentional. At this stage, charging documents, witness statements and media reporting represent probable cause — not conclusive proof of guilt. Koboi will have the opportunity to defend against the charges in court, and hearings will determine whether prosecutors’ claims are supported by evidence that meets the criminal standard beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Those next legal steps matter for the children, the family and the community. Prosecutors must move evidence — forensic, testimonial and digital — into a record that can withstand defense challenges. Defense filings and the court process will likely shed further light on the timeline, motive and circumstances that led to Thompson’s death.

The human aftermath: children, family, community

According to police and family accounts, Koboi drove the children to Michigan and left them with their grandmother before he fled. The image of children dropped far from home in the aftermath of a parent’s murder is devastatingly familiar — and it raises complex questions about immediate care, trauma services and the long path toward stability. Family members, neighbors and community groups have mobilized to support the children; fundraisers and social-media tributes are already active. 

For survivors and for professionals who work with families affected by domestic violence, Thompson’s death is an urgent reminder: lethal violence often escalates in predictable ways, and the aftermath leaves children with needs that extend far beyond the immediate emergency. Agencies and advocates emphasize fast, coordinated responses — from emergency housing and counseling to legal assistance and long-term child welfare supports.

Context: intimate-partner violence and gun deaths

The Thompson case is not an isolated incident. Homicides involving intimate partners and gun violence continue to be leading causes of death for women in the United States. While each case is specific, patterns — controlling behavior, prior threats or incidents involving firearms, and periods of separation or escalated arguments — often precede fatal outcomes. Experts say improving prevention requires better enforcement of existing protective orders, swifter removal of firearms from dangerous situations, and robust support systems that survivors can access safely. 

Local advocates note that the trauma of losing a parent to violence compounds over time, especially for children who witness or learn about the killing — which is why timely casework and child-centered trauma therapy are essential parts of any responsible community response.