Father and son party at strip club in downtown Minneapolis ends with drug deal that leads to murder

A night three years ago that began as a father-son party in downtown Minneapolis ended with the son shooting a man in his father's car during a drug deal, according to charges filed last week in Hennepin County District Court.

Kevin Eric Wilbert, 23, of Chicago was charged with first-degree murder in the 2021 death of 32-year-old Manuel Dandre Lott after Lott allegedly contacted Wilbert's father to sell him marijuana. Minutes later, Lott was found dead in a car outside the club, one of several businesses in the 300 block of Washington Avenue N., whose name is not mentioned in the criminal complaint against Wilbert. He remains at large, and a nationwide warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Several witnesses who had already made initial statements to the police in 2021 were questioned again this year before charges were brought.

According to court documents:

Minneapolis police were called to the 300 block of Washington Avenue N. on August 22, 2021, where they found a dead man sitting in the driver's seat of a car. The victim was later identified as Lott. He had been shot in the head at close range, another bullet was lodged in Lott's right thigh, and a third bullet hole was found on the side of the car. Lott was carrying a gun in a holster. Although he was sitting in the car, Lott appeared to be wearing motorcycle gear, and police later found his motorcycle nearby.

Three witnesses spoke to police that night, including Wilbert's father. He said a group went into the club, but his son told him he left his phone in the car. He said Wilbert left the club to look for his phone and returned 10 or 15 minutes later. Then a woman came into the club and told Wilbert's father that someone had been shot in his car. When Wilbert's father went out to investigate, he immediately recognized the victim in his car by his nickname, “Boom.”

The woman who reported the shooting to Wilbert's father told police she was in the car when the shooting happened but had no idea what led up to it. There was no argument and she had her head down when the gun went off.

In statements given this year, Wilbert's father gave the same version of events, but added that Lott had contacted him earlier in the day to sell him weed, but after failing to meet earlier in the day, they spoke again on the phone later and arranged to meet at the club. He said he tried to find his son but was unable to and called 911 shortly afterward.