ST. PAUL, Minn. — Authorities in Minnesota are on a manhunt for Mychel Stowers, a 36-year-old recently paroled murderer, now accused of a deadly shooting that killed his pregnant wife, Damara Alexis Kirkland, 35, and injured another in a separate incident. Stowers, who was paroled in March following a conviction for a 2008 second-degree murder, faces new charges of second-degree murder after the Oct. 19 incident.
According to law enforcement, Stowers was given a day pass from the halfway house where he resided under work release conditions to visit a woman reported in court documents as his ex-wife. Later that day, police were alerted to a shooting at the apartment where Kirkland was found deceased, her body surrounded by ultrasound photos, according to a police statement.
Adding to the chaos, a second crime scene surfaced minutes later near the initial shooting location. A 36-year-old man reported being carjacked and shot in the leg, severely breaking his femur, after a brief encounter with a suspect who matched Stowers’ description. The assailant fired at another person present but missed, stole the vehicle, and fled the scene. Subsequent preliminary investigations matched the firearm used in both the murder and carjacking, pointing to Stowers as the main suspect.
Interestingly, the apartment owner indicated that Kirkland’s estranged husband – Stowers – was not authorized to live in the premises, noting that Kirkland was being evicted. Despite Stowers’ June divorce filing, it appears unresolved, other court records indicate.
The day of the shootings saw a brief and ominous communication with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office from Stowers, wherein he confessed to shooting someone and expressed his intent to surrender. However, Stowers has yet to turn himself in, and the stolen vehicle was later recovered abandoned in a nearby parking lot.
Local law enforcement agencies, alongside state police, are intensifying their efforts to capture Stowers, urging the public to report any sightings or information that could lead to his arrest. The community remains on edge as the search continues, with the seriousness of the crimes prompting a widespread response.
The tragic nature of these events underscores ongoing concerns about parolee monitoring and public safety, particularly involving individuals with a history of violent crime. Community leaders and criminal justice experts are calling for a review of parolee supervision methods to prevent such incidents in the future.
As the investigation unfolds, the loss of Kirkland and her unborn child has resonated deeply within the St. Paul community, sparking discussions on domestic violence and the support systems available to those at risk. The City of St. Paul has seen a noticeable increase in calls to local hotlines and domestic violence shelters following the incident, highlighting the pervasive impact of such tragic events on community welfare.
Authorities continue to appeal for any information related to Stowers’ whereabouts, assuring the public that all tips are being investigated thoroughly to facilitate his capture and ensure community safety.