‘21 Days of Peace’ Workers Indicted in North Minneapolis Gunfight

Jun 6

Two men hired to promote peace in north Minneapolis are now facing federal charges after authorities say they fired dozens of rounds in a residential neighborhood while working for a taxpayer-funded initiative.

A federal grand jury indicted Kashmir Khaliffa McReynolds, 35, of Minneapolis, and Alvin Anthony Watkins Jr., 50, of Saint Anthony, in connection with a March shooting that unfolded shortly after their shifts with “21 Days of Peace.”

The indictment charges Watkins with being a felon in possession of a firearm, while McReynolds is charged with illegally providing a firearm to a convicted felon and possessing a firearm while employed for a prohibited person.

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McReynolds and Watkins were both previously charged in state court with felony reckless discharge of a firearm in a municipality. Watkins was also charged with illegal firearm possession charge due to previous convictions, which include assault and firearm-related offenses.

According to federal prosecutors, the pair was working for 21 Days of Peace, an outreach program operated by Salem Inc. and funded by the Minnesota Legislature. The program was meant to reduce violence through community engagement and presence in high-crime areas. But investigators say the two men instead contributed to the gunfire they were supposed to be preventing.

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Following the March arrests on state charges, city officials confirmed that McReynolds was working as a “violence interrupter” at the time of the shooting. The city had been considering renewing the nonprofit's contract but withdrew its request for funding after learning about the charges. A spokesperson for Mayor Jacob Frey's office confirmed that "the city has terminated consideration of this contract effective immediately" and said officials were reviewing partnerships to ensure accountability in all community safety programs.

Court documents state the incident began around 9 p.m. on March 10, when an unknown shooter fired at McReynolds and Watkins in north Minneapolis. Investigators say McReynolds, who never saw the shooter, returned fire in the direction he believed the shots came from, then ran to the other side of the block and continued firing. He also handed a second firearm to Watkins, who allegedly joined him in shooting. Neither man was struck by gunfire.

In total, prosecutors say the two fired approximately 43 rounds through the neighborhoo

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