Man who pleaded guilty in gang-related murder on Raspberry Island sentenced to 32 years

A man who shot and killed someone at St. Paul’s Raspberry Island over hearing a song by a rapper affiliated with a rival gang was sentenced to 32 years in prison on Tuesday.

Romello Markell Ifonlaja-Randle, 25, pleaded guilty in June to charges of second-degree murder and possessing a firearm without a serial number in connection with the Aug. 14, 2023, death of Marcus Baker Jr.

A judge on Tuesday sentenced him to 13 months for the weapons charge, to be served concurrently with 386 months for the murder conviction. Ifonajala-Randle received credit for 707 days served in jail.

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  • Charges: Gang-affiliated rap song led to Raspberry Island homicide
  • Additional charges filed against man accused of fatal shooting spurred by gang-affiliated rap song

According to a criminal complaint, Baker, 20, was playing a song by NLU SKEET, a local rap artist affiliated with East Side gangs. One man went up to Baker and asked him to stop, but when he refused, the man slapped Baker and shot him…

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