On April 28, 2026, AEL reported her vehicle, a 2012 Ford Fusion, was broken into while it was parked at Kohler Meadows Park, [address omitted] F, Vadnais Heights, County of Ramsey. AEL’s front passenger seat window was broken. AEL said her purse-with driver’s license, credit cards, and other items-was stolen. AEL said her student baseball players arrived at the park at approximately 3:00 P.M. Practice ended at approximately 4:50 P.M. A student noticed damage to a vehicle and told the coaching staff.
PJK’s vehicle-a 2002 Toyota Camry-was also broken into. PJK’s front passenger window was shattered. PJK’s black satchel bag-with school paperwork- was stolen from his vehicle. As officers spoke with AEL, she advised she received a text message from Wells Fargo about a declined transaction on her credit card at Walgreen’s for $223.80. The Walgreen’s location was identified at 1075 Highway 96 East, White Bear Lake, County of Ramsey. An officer responded to Walgreens. A credit card ending in #5655 was used for a purchase of $223.80 at 5:03 P.M. A second transaction in the amount of $223.80 using the same card was declined at 5:05 P.M. Video reviewed by an officer showed a male wearing a black hoodie with gold lettering/design, light blue jeans, black and white shoes, a black balaclava style mask, and clear lens eyeglasses-approach the register and purchase gift cards for a total amount of $223.80. Shortly after, the male returned to the register and attempted to purchase additional gift cards totaling $223.50. The transaction was declined.
The male used a different card ending in #5655 to attempt the purchase, but it was declined. A card ending in #8293 was successfully used for the purchase of credit cards, total amount $223.80. Officers reviewed surveillance videos and observed a black Mercedes sedan, MN license SPZ159, as a suspect vehicle. An alert was issued for the vehicle and license plate. On April 29, 2026, Saint Paul Police stopped the Mercedes on Sherburne Avenue in Saint Paul. KHALIL ALI ZENO, [DOB redacted], was the driver.
A Wells Fargo credit/debit card in someone else’s name was found on the driver’s seat. During a search, ZENO had eight Vanilla gift cards on him, totaling $550.00. A wallet with six additional Vanilla gift card was found. A Walgreens receipt dated April 24, 2026 at 5:03 P.M. Was attached to one of the gift cards. In the Mercedes, a black face mask and credit cards in other names were found. An investigator reviewed video of ZENO selling shoes and Pickleball paddles to a Play it Again Sports store on April 30th.
In the Play it Again video, ZENO wore the same black sweatshirt with yellow graphics as the male wore in video purchasing the gift cards with the stolen credit card. After a Miranda advisory, ZENO spoke to an investigator. He said the Mercedes is his vehicle. He said he purchased the credit card the morning of April 28th from a homeless man in Saint Paul for $20. He believed the credit card belonged to the homeless man. He was going to “double up” by purchasing gift cards with the card. ZENO admitted he went to Walgreens and purchased two gift cards.
