How Tim Walz helped free a man convicted of murdering an 11-year-old girl... who was arrested on drug and gun crimes after his release

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, now the running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris, is facing questions about his role in freeing a man twice convicted of the killing of an 11-year-old girl, and who now facing gun and drug felonies.

Myon Burrell, then 16, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison after a stray bullet killed 11-year-old girl Tyesha Edwards while she was doing her homework at her dining room table in Hennepin County, Minnesota, in 2002.

Police said that the bullet was fired by Burrell, who was aiming it at a rival gang member at the time.

He was charged as an adult with first-degree murder by then-prosecutor Amy Klobuchar, now a Democrat United States senator, who used the conviction to bolster her political career. 

Burrell refused to take any plea deals and maintained his innocence.  

The state Supreme Court set aside the conviction in 2003, but Burrell was convicted a second time in 2009 when the court presented new evidence.

Years later, Burrell's case received new attention after Klobuchar ran for president in 2020 and the Black Lives Matter protests demanding criminal justice reform.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks to the press in 2020

An Associated Press investigation raised questions about issues with the prosecution, despite no DNA, no gun, and no fingerprints to convict Burrell. The case, according to the reports, relied on jailhouse informants who offered inconsistent testimony that Burrell was the one responsible.

Walz, a member of the Minnesota Board of Pardons in 2020, voted to commute Burrell's sentence, making a scientific case that a life sentence for a teenager was too much.

'We cannot turn a blind eye to the developments in science and law as we look at this case,' Walz said at the time.

He urged the family to recognize that times had changed since the original conviction.

Myon Burrell is released from Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020

Walz argued the punishment was too draconian 

'Justice is not served by incarcerating a child for his entire lifetime for a horrible mistake committed many years ago,' he said announcing his decision in December 2020.

Jimmie Edwards III, Tyesha's brother, said at the time the family was upset by the verdict, recalling the death of his sister.

'She never got to go to her prom. She never got to go to college. She never got to go to junior high school or high school,' he said. 'Her life was taken away at 11. Who's the victim?'

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz greets reporters before Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at Planned Parenthood, March 14, 2024

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (L) greets US Vice President Kamala Harris as she arrives at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

Although Burrell was freed from prison in 2020, he was later arrested by police officers and charged with gun and drug felonies in September 2023.

Police said that Burrell, now 37, was found with a handgun in his vehicle and that marijuana smoke billowed out of the vehicle when he was pulled over after driving erratically and going above the legal speed limit.

He was arrested a second time since his release from prison on drug charges in May 2024 after police say he had illegal drugs in his possession. Police also said they found $60,000 in cash in his apartment.

Police found bags believed to be marijuana, ecstasy pills, methamphetamine pills, and a digital scale, according to the complaint.

Burrell resisted arrest, according to police, trying to walk away before he was placed in handcuffs and put into the squad car.