North Minneapolis double homicide: Cousin killed two relatives hours after bail release; family now speaks out
Twenty‑three‑year‑old Eddie Duncan allegedly fatally shot two relatives — cousins 14‑year‑old Xavier Barnett and 23‑year‑old Akwame Stewart — at a north Minneapolis home within roughly three hours of posting $35,000 bail after a court appearance on separate fleeing and gun charges tied to a police pursuit and recovery of a Glock with an auto sear and extended magazine. Their sister De’Asia Freeman found the victims while her young children hid in a closet; family members say Duncan may have believed the cousins were responsible (though police say there’s no proof), Duncan was later shot and killed following an exchange with officers at an IHOP in Brooklyn Center, and the family is receiving support from outreach group A Mother’s Love and a GoFundMe for funeral expenses.
📌 Key Facts
- 23-year-old Eddie Duncan allegedly shot and killed two of his cousins, 14-year-old Xavier Barnett and 23-year-old Akwame Stewart, at a north Minneapolis home within roughly three hours of being released from the Hennepin County Jail.
- Duncan had been arrested on Feb. 15 and charged in connection with a May Robbinsdale case that involved a police pursuit, a crash, and recovery of a Glock fitted with an auto sear and a 29‑round magazine; prosecutors filed fleeing and gun charges.
- At a court appearance the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office requested $70,000 bail (or $35,000 with conditions) citing a public‑safety risk; the judge set bail at that level, Duncan posted $35,000 with conditions and was released — the county attorney’s office issued a public statement explaining the request, constitutional limits and the sequence that led to his release.
- Hours after the homicides, Duncan went to an IHOP in Brooklyn Center where an exchange of gunfire with police ended with Duncan being shot and killed.
- Their sister, De’Asia Freeman, discovered her niece and nephews hiding in a closet and found Xavier and Akwame shot on the floor; Freeman says Xavier may have tried to intervene and that this is the third brother she has lost to violence.
- Family described Xavier as a good student who loved playing with his niece and nephews and Akwame as a talented painter, cook and handyman; neighbors and a former coach expressed shock, especially over the death of the 14‑year‑old.
- Family members believe Duncan thought his cousins were responsible for his arrest, though Minneapolis police say there is no proof establishing that motive.
- Outreach group A Mother’s Love is supporting the family and a GoFundMe has been set up to help cover funeral and related expenses.
📊 Relevant Data
In Minnesota, 62 percent of victims of violent crime were of the same race as the person perpetrating violence against them.
Minnesota Criminal Justice Data Snapshot — Justice Reinvestment Initiative
Nearly half (49.7%) of all Black children in the United States lived with one parent in 2023, compared with about one in five (20.2%) of White children.
Living arrangements of children by race/ethnicity, 1970-2023 — OJJDP
Cities with high levels of single parenthood have 118% higher rates of violent crime and 255% higher rates of homicide.
Father(less) figures — American Experiment
In Minnesota, recidivism rates differ by conviction offense type, with property offenders recidivating at higher rates than person (violent or sex) offenders.
Minnesota Criminal History Score Recidivism Project — Robina Institute
The rate of fatal police shootings among Black Americans was much higher than that for any other ethnicity in 2023.
People shot to death by U.S. police 2017-2024, by race — Statista
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Identifies the two homicide victims as 14-year-old Xavier Barnett and 23-year-old Akwame Stewart and confirms they were cousins of alleged shooter Eddie Duncan.
- Describes how their sister, De’Asia Freeman, discovered her niece and nephews hiding in a closet and found both brothers shot on the floor of their mother’s north Minneapolis home.
- Details the victims’ lives and roles in the family — Xavier as a good student who loved playing with his niece and nephews, and Akwame as a talented painter, cook and handyman — and notes Freeman has now lost three brothers to violence.
- Reports that outreach group A Mother’s Love is supporting the family again after they previously lost another loved one in 2023, and includes a GoFundMe link for funeral and related expenses.
- Conveys Freeman’s belief that Xavier may have tried to intervene during the shooting and her shock that cousin Eddie Duncan, just released from jail, would harm them.
- On-camera, detailed account from sister De’Asia Freeman describing discovering her 14-year-old brother Xavier Barnett and 23-year-old brother Akwame Stewart shot on the floor while her young niece and nephews hid in a closet.
- Freeman states this is the third brother she has lost to violence and describes ongoing trauma from an earlier shooting in which she and another brother were shot.
- The family shares personal details about the victims: Xavier was a good student who loved playing with her kids; Akwame was known for painting, cooking and fixing things around the house, and both had a strong bond with her children.
- Freeman says she believes 14-year-old Xavier tried to intervene during the incident and expresses disbelief that cousin Eddie Duncan, recently released from jail, would harm them.
- The piece notes the family is receiving support from outreach group A Mother’s Love and includes a GoFundMe link for funeral and related expenses.
- Suspect is 23-year-old Eddie Duncan, who allegedly shot and killed two of his cousins, ages 14 and 23, at a north Minneapolis home within roughly three hours of being released from the Hennepin County Jail.
- Duncan had been arrested and charged in connection with a May Robbinsdale case involving a police pursuit, a crash, and recovery of a Glock with an auto sear and a 29‑round magazine; he was formally charged and arrested on Feb. 15.
- At Monday’s court appearance on those fleeing and gun charges, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office requested $70,000 bail (or $35,000 with conditions) citing a public‑safety risk; the judge set bail at that level and Duncan posted $35,000 with conditions and was released.
- Police and family members believe Duncan thought his cousins were responsible for his arrest, though MPD says there is no proof of that motive.
- After the homicides, Duncan went to an IHOP in Brooklyn Center, where an exchange of gunfire with police ended with Duncan being shot and killed.
- A neighbor and former coach, Dozie Melvie, is quoted describing Duncan as a previously happy kid, underscoring community shock, especially over the 14‑year‑old’s death.
- Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s office issued a detailed public statement explaining the bail request, constitutional limits, and sequence leading to Duncan’s release and the alleged killings.