Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, is now under fire for his involvement in the release of Myon Burrell, a man twice convicted of the 2002 killing of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards. Burrell, who was freed in 2020 after Walz voted to commute his life sentence, is now facing serious felony charges for gun and drug-related offenses, the Daily Mail reported in a scathing exposé.

Burrell was just 16 years old when he was first convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the stray bullet that killed Tyesha Edwards as she sat at her dining room table doing homework in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Prosecutors at the time, led by then-Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar—now a U.S. Senator—charged Burrell as an adult with first-degree murder. The case bolstered Klobuchar’s political career, but Burrell consistently maintained his innocence and refused to accept any plea deals.

Burrell’s case was revisited by the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2003, which overturned the initial conviction. However, he was reconvicted in 2009 after new evidence surfaced. The case gained renewed attention in 2020, during Klobuchar’s presidential campaign, especially as movements like Black Lives Matter spotlighted issues of criminal justice reform. Investigations by the Associated Press highlighted troubling aspects of the prosecution, including the lack of physical evidence such as DNA or the murder weapon, and the reliance on inconsistent witness testimony.

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Governor Walz, who was part of the Minnesota Board of Pardons, decided in December 2020 to support the commutation of Burrell’s life sentence. He argued that modern understandings of juvenile sentencing made the original punishment too severe. “Justice isn’t served by locking up a child for life for a mistake made in their youth,” Walz remarked at the time, encouraging the Edwards family to see the decision in the context of evolving legal standards.

However, this decision has not been without its critics. The Edwards family, particularly Tyesha’s brother, Jimmie Edwards III, expressed their pain and disagreement with the commutation, reflecting on the life Tyesha was denied. “She never got to grow up, to experience the milestones we all take for granted,” he said. “Her life was taken so young. We’re the real victims here.”

Burrell’s release initially seemed to align with calls for reform, but his subsequent arrests have reignited debate. In September 2023, Burrell was pulled over for erratic driving, leading to the discovery of a handgun in his vehicle. Then, in May 2024, he was arrested again, this time after police found illegal drugs and a large sum of cash in his possession. During this arrest, Burrell allegedly resisted, trying to walk away before being detained.

These recent developments have cast a shadow over Walz’s decision to support Burrell’s release and raised concerns about his judgment, especially as he steps onto the national stage as Harris’ running mate. Critics argue that the push for criminal justice reform must be balanced with the considerations of public safety and accountability.