Man Arrested in Rock Island, Illinois, Charged With Murder in April 23rd Maplewood MN Shooting
Published: April 26th 2026
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS MN: A 23-year-old man arrested in Rock Island Illinois is facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with an April 23rd, 2026 shooting in Maplewood MN, according to a criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County District Court.
According to the complaint, Justin Tyrell Rand was located in the Davenport Iowa area and was later arrested in Rock Island, Illinois, while allegedly driving the victim’s vehicle.
Police were dispatched at approximately 8:20 p.m. on April 23 to the Sherwood Glen Apartments, 1510 County Road B East, after callers reported hearing gunshots on the first floor.
According to the complaint, officers found bullet holes in the door of apartment 104. One bullet traveled into the wall of apartment 103, which was determined to be vacant. The shots appeared to have originated from inside apartment 104.
Officers entered the apartment and found a man identified in the complaint as MDR lying on the floor with his feet facing the entry door. He had an apparent gunshot wound to the head and did not have a pulse. Officers began CPR, and medics later pronounced him dead at 8:57 p.m.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on April 24. According to the complaint, the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. The victim sustained gunshot wounds to the face, right hand, right wrist, and abdomen.
Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots but no argument or disturbance beforehand. One resident told police he heard four to five shots and saw a man run from the building. Another resident reported seeing a vehicle leave the visitor parking lot at a high rate of speed.
According to the complaint, Rand rented apartment 104. Officers recovered five discharged 9mm shell casings inside the unit, along with a box of Magtech 9mm ammunition with five cartridges missing. Packaging found in the apartment showed the ammunition had been delivered to Rand on April 17.
Family members told police that the victim and Rand were cousins and that Rand worked for the victim’s construction company. The victim had reportedly gone to Rand’s apartment that evening to assist with a repair. The complaint states Rand was in the process of being evicted.
The victim’s 2022 Ford Maverick pickup was not located at the scene and was entered as stolen. Surveillance video later showed the vehicle leaving the apartment parking lot around 8:17 p.m., shortly before 911 calls were received.
According to the complaint, license plate reader data later placed the vehicle in Walcott, Iowa, early the next morning. Investigators tracked Rand’s phone to the Davenport area. He was later arrested in Rock Island, Illinois, while driving the victim’s vehicle. Rand told officers there was a pistol inside the truck.
Rand is charged with one count of second-degree murder with intent, not premeditated, under Minnesota Statute 609.19.1(1), which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.