14-Year-Old St. Paul Boy Arrested In Death Of Brother Is Released

ST. PAUL, MN — A 14-year-old jailed after his 12-year-old brother was shot and killed in St. Paul has been released pending further investigation.

The teen was taken into custody on suspicion of manslaughter after his brother — Markee Jones — died Saturday morning on the 200 block of Stinson Street. But Jones' relatives demanded the teen be released.

Family members said the shooting was an accident and that whoever left a gun at their house needed to come forward, Minnesota Public Radio reported.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office said Tuesday it returned the case file to St. Paul police for further investigation "after a careful review of the evidence."

"At this stage in the investigation, there is not sufficient evidence to proceed with a charging determination," the attorney's office said in a statement. "The RCAO will make a charging determination at a future date should additional investigative information become available. Based upon this decision by the RCAO, the youth will be released from custody."

The teen was released Tuesday afternoon. Per Minnesota privacy laws, his identity was not released to the public.

Police responded to the shooting just before 5 a.m. Saturday. Officers found a 12-year-old boy suffering a gunshot wound. He was transported to Regions Hospital, where he died.