The family of a 32-year-old man suspected of shooting and wounding bystanders before getting into a shootout with police in St. Paul last week is apologizing “to the innocent victims” and the community members affected.
Tevin Marcel Bellaphant, who police say died by suicide inside a Cub Foods, has a history of violence and was legally barred from possessing guns, according to court records.
The incident started shortly after noon on Friday when police say Bellaphant pistol whipped someone and fired gunshots in a home in the 1500 block of Jessamine Lane. That case involved a sister of Bellaphant’s and he fled with a 4-year-old cousin, a relative said.
Tevin Bellaphant (Courtesy of the family)
“This is another tragic example of the fact that domestic violence is not a private personal issue, but a public health issue with wide-ranging impacts across entire communities,” Violence Free Minnesota posted on social media Sunday, pointing out that domestic violence “often spills out of homes and into workplaces, stores, places of worship, parks, and far more.”
Officers received reports that Bellaphant was spotted in a nearby Aldi grocery store on Clarence Street near Maryland Avenue. He took out a weapon and fired at police and they returned fire. Bellaphant then fled the store without the child, who was not harmed.
With officers pursuing him, Bellaphant continued to run. As he did, he passed by Destiny Café 2 and shot two women. They were taken to the hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Bellaphant continued to run through the Cub Foods parking lot, toward the occupied grocery store, where an officer fired multiple gunshots at him. He entered the grocery store, which officers helped evacuate, and police began negotiating with Bellaphant. Police said he shot himself 10 minutes later.
‘Never learned how to cope,’ family says
Bellaphant’s family said they want people to know that Friday’s events “did not define the type of person he was.”
“He had a big heart” and loved “kids wholeheartedly,” his family said in a statement. “Tevin was the type of person that would call and check on you, come over and help out around the house or with the kids. He would crack jokes with the kids, attend sports, family nights, and listen to school drama.”
Bellaphant lost his mother, uncle and grandmother “and never learned how to cope with the losses,” the statement continued. “He struggled with mental health issues and it led to a drug addiction.”
Bellaphant came from a large family and was the third oldest grandchild. His family said they’re taking his loss hard.
“We would like to say sorry to the innocent victims that were shot, and to the people out in the community … affected by this tragic event,” their statement concluded.
Past charges of domestic violence, attempted murder
St. Paul police asked the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate, since officers fired their guns, and the BCA’s investigation is ongoing.
Bellaphant was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2015 sentence for aiding and abetting first-degree burglary, according to a past criminal complaint.
In 2016, Bellaphant was charged with attempted murder and other counts, accused of shooting at two people in St. Paul. They were not injured. After police arrested him, Bellaphant said he’d been in a “beef” with one of the men. Bellaphant was convicted of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.
Related Articles
Mike Waltz pledges to make UN ‘great again’ at Senate confirmation hearing
Murder trial begins for Colorado dentist accused of poisoning wife’s protein shakes
Weeklong burglary trial for Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell begins
Hulu series names new person of interest in Jodi Huisentruit case
Charges dropped against Utah doctor accused of throwing away $28,000 in COVID vaccine doses
His most recent conviction was in 2022 for felony domestic assault, for which he was sentenced to 23 months in prison, Minnesota court records show.
When police were looking for him in that case, after the mother of his child said he punched her in the face, Bellaphant called 911 and said, “Officers arrest me — I hope his bulletproof vest can withstand … cuz I’m gunning they (expletive) down,” according to the criminal complaint in that case.
Bellaphant called 911 a second time and said, “Y’all keep me in custody alive. I’m gonna kill your (expletive expletive) and the judge,” the complaint also said.
For help
The St. Paul & Ramsey County Domestic Abuse Intervention Project can be reached 24 hours a day at 651-645-2824. Help for domestic violence in Minnesota is also available 24/7 through the Day One crisis hotline by calling 866-223-1111 or texting 612-399-9995.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by dialing 988 and the Crisis Text Line can be contacted by texting “Home” to 741741.
Leave a Reply