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Man shot to death near the University of Minnesota, remembered as funny and affectionate

Martin McKinney saw the news when he checked his phone between Fortnite games on Tuesday.

Host of Dar-rah had been killed.

The 18-year-old was stunned. He could not believe that his friend, the silly, affectionate child he met in high school, was dead.

"'This is not real,'" McKinney recalled.

The 18-year-old host of St. Louis Park died early Tuesday after being shot in an unlicensed compound near the University campus. Minnesota in the West Bank.

The presenter was shot shortly before 1 a.m. in the Seven Corners neighborhood near the intersection of Washington and Cedar A avenues. He died of multiple gunshot wounds around 2:30 a.m. in HCMC, according to Hennepin County Medical Examiner.

The shooting took place near the Ruby Lounge, an event space attached to the Jewel of India restaurant at 1427 S Washington Ave. S, which hosted a concert that night.

Later on Tuesday, city officials cited the event space as a "unlicensed rental room." The owners could not be reached for comment.

The Minneapolis police are investigating the incident as a homicide and have not named any suspects.

It was the second violent death near campus this week.

Friends of the host brought social networks to tears, many still in disbelief.

McKinney encountered Host while attending Sanford Middle School. They made friends quickly, joined together to make jokes and play.

"Teachers always had to separate us because we laughed all the time in class," he said.

Roger Martinez, 18, said Host watched over people and knew what buttons to press to brighten the mood of his friends.

"He was the main guy who made jokes, was uplifting and fun for everyone," said Martinez.

His mother, Chanel Futrell, 36, said her oldest son was shy at first, but magnetic once he met him.

Recently he had focused on discovering his life, she said. He had turned 18 in May and enrolled in a GED program hoping to join the military and then, finally, to college.

"They took something from me, not just me, but everyone," he said.

McKinney hopes that people will realize that violence has severe consequences.

"I hope people realize, what does this prove, what does it prove?" He asked. "It does not prove anything."

Host's girlfriend, Gabby Soika, 16, was waiting at her house when she heard the news that he was dead.

On Wednesday, she said she felt broken.

"I just want everyone to hold their loved ones and tell them that they love them," he said. "Because you never know the last time you could see them"

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