Minneapolis police arrested 21-year-old Donell Odell Jones on April 30 and charged him with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with a North Side shooting that left a 25-year-old man dead last year. Prosecutors say the killing happened on the morning of June 1, 2024, near North 34th Avenue between James and Knox avenues, where officers found the victim next to his vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds. The Hennepin County medical examiner later identified the man as 25-year-old Malacai Bailey and reported he had been shot four times. According to a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County, investigators link Jones to the scene through a mix of forensic and digital evidence.
Evidence described in the complaint
Prosecutors say investigators recovered Bailey’s cell phone in a nearby alley and found two discharged shell casings on the back seat of his car. A fingerprint lifted from the vehicle allegedly matched Jones. The complaint also states that the firearm used in the shooting surfaced during a traffic stop on Aug. 10, 2024, and that laboratory testing completed this April matched Jones’s DNA to that weapon.
Court records cited in the filing note that Jones had been arrested earlier on July 29, 2024, on charges of possessing a gun with an altered serial number and second-degree drug possession. These details appear in court documents reviewed by KSTP.
Victim, scene and early reporting
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner identified the victim as Malacai Lamonte Bailey and reported that he was shot while in his vehicle on North 34th Avenue, approximately between North James and North Knox avenues. At the time, early news coverage said police had not made any arrests as investigators processed the scene and collected evidence. The victim’s identity was first published in June 2024 by the Star Tribune.
Investigators point to an arranged meeting
According to the criminal complaint, a text thread found on Bailey’s phone outlined a planned meeting at 35th and Knox for what investigators allege was a drug deal. Prosecutors say the exchange was arranged by a person identified in court filings as “L.T.”
Witnesses told officers they heard gunshots and then saw two men run into an alley, according to the filing. Prosecutors say L.T. told investigators he had been at work at the time but acknowledged setting up the meeting. The complaint states that the timing of L.T.’s phone activity and the text messages aligns with the shooting. The arrest and charges were reported after the court filing was reviewed by KSTP…