Man Accused of Killing Passenger on Minneapolis Light-Rail Train After DNA From His Spit Led Police Straight to Him

A 30-year-old Minnesota man is behind bars after investigators allegedly used an unusual piece of DNA evidence to identify him as the gunman in a deadly shooting aboard a light-rail train. Jaquan Edwards has been charged with second-degree murder in the October 3, 2026, killing of 36-year-old Joseph Denny Nezperce. The shooting happened on Metro Transit’s Green Line in Minneapolis as the train traveled near the University of Minnesota campus. What initially appeared to be a difficult case to solve eventually took an unexpected turn when detectives discovered that the suspected shooter had left behind a biological clue before the attack even happened.

According to the criminal complaint, surveillance footage showed Edwards boarding the train at the U.S. Bank Stadium station in downtown Minneapolis at approximately 8:48 p.m. Investigators say he was captured on camera spitting repeatedly onto the concrete platform before getting on board. About nine minutes later, Nezperce entered the train at the East Bank station and sat across from him. The two men reportedly exchanged words as the train continued along the route. Between the Stadium Village and Prospect Park stations, Edwards allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired three shots at Nezperce before leaving the train. At least one bullet struck the victim in the neck.

The train continued toward St. Paul before officers boarded at the Westgate station and discovered Nezperce unresponsive. Despite emergency efforts, the 36-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the train and surrounding stations, eventually noticing the suspected gunman’s repeated spitting at the U.S. Bank Stadium platform. Police collected saliva samples from the concrete and obtained a DNA profile that could potentially identify the person responsible for the shooting. However, detectives still needed to establish who the individual was.

A Metro Transit card provided another important lead. Investigators discovered that the same card used by the suspect had previously been used on a bus in Maplewood, a city near St. Paul. Police followed the card’s travel history and obtained surveillance footage from a nearby Hy-Vee grocery store. A security guard reportedly recognized the man in the footage as someone who worked at the neighboring Advance Auto Parts store. Investigators then identified him as Edwards. The discovery allowed detectives to connect the surveillance images to a specific individual and pursue additional DNA evidence.

Police later learned that Edwards had previously been stopped by officers while driving his mother’s vehicle and smoking a wood-tipped cigar. Investigators conducted a search of discarded trash at his mother’s residence, where a witness said Edwards had been living. They reportedly recovered six discarded cigar mouthpieces and collected saliva samples from them. According to the criminal complaint, the DNA profile obtained from the cigar mouthpieces was consistent with the profile recovered from the saliva left at the train station. Edwards was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. He remains in custody as the case moves through the Minnesota court system. Although investigators say the DNA evidence helped identify him, the charge remains an allegation until proven in court, and the full circumstances surrounding the deadly encounter will be examined during the legal proceedings.

Source: Law&Crime