38-year-old sentenced to homeless camp after killing man for $20

A man has been convicted after shooting another person for $20 at a homeless encampment in south Minneapolis.

On Thursday, the Hennepin County District Attorney's Office sentenced 38-year-old Kenneth Joel McKinnis to 35½ years (426 months) for the killing of Curtis Johnson in September 2023. He will receive credit for 308 days of time already served.

McKinnis was found guilty of first-degree murder in July.

As previously reported, witnesses told authorities Johnson owed McKinnis $20 and the two had been arguing because Johnson couldn't pay McKinnis back the money. Witnesses also said they heard McKinnis threatening to shoot Johnson if he didn't have the money, court documents say.

Surveillance video taken near the intersection of 16th Avenue South and East 25th Street showed a stolen pickup truck arriving at the camp where Johnson had been shortly before the shooting. After the gunshot was heard, a man ran toward the truck, got in the back seat, and the truck drove off.

The two men in the truck were later identified by authorities. The other, unnamed occupant confirmed that he gave McKinnis a ride to the camp, saw him go into a tent, and then saw him take a gun from the truck seat and put it in his waistband when he returned home.

“We want to thank the people who lived in the encampment for their courage in testifying against Mr. McKinnis,” said Hennepin County District Attorney Mary Moriarty. “Homeless individuals may have to overcome mental health issues, substance abuse, lack of transportation and distrust of the system just to be able to show up to testify. Staff across our office worked closely together to provide the necessary support. It is gratifying for all of us to bring justice to Blow, his family and his community.”