On Friday, Tenzin Yamgha, a 30-year-old resident of Anoka, Minnesota, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by Hennepin County District Court after pleading guilty to second-degree unintentional murder for the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Malcom Williams at a light rail station in Minneapolis. The sentencing comes nearly four years after the tragic incident, which took place on December 24, 2020, in the upper lobby of the Lake Street and Hiawatha light rail station. Williams, a Minneapolis resident, died shortly after being shot by Yamgha during a brief but intense altercation over a small amount of money.
The tragic incident has left a profound impact on Williams’ family, friends, and the surrounding community, who have grappled with the loss and waited years for a resolution. “My thoughts are with Mr. Williams’ family, suffering the loss of a loved one to gun violence,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said following the sentencing. “While no sentence will return Mr. Williams to them, today’s result brings accountability to Mr. Yamgha and protects the community from him in the years ahead.”
Details of the 2020 Shooting: How the Incident Unfolded
The tragic encounter on Christmas Eve 2020 began as an argument between Yamgha and Williams in the upper-level escalator lobby at the Lake Street and Hiawatha light rail station. Court documents and surveillance footage reveal that Yamgha entered the station’s lobby with a female companion and was soon approached by Williams. The surveillance video, later used as evidence in the trial, showed Yamgha, wearing a distinctive blue baseball cap, a green Nike hooded jacket, and dark sunglasses, engaging in an argument with Williams.
Williams appeared agitated as he confronted Yamgha, who kept one hand in his pocket, apparently gripping a concealed firearm. As tensions escalated, Yamgha is heard in the video warning Williams, stating, “I will pull the trigger.” Despite the warning, the argument intensified, with Williams at one point removing Yamgha’s cap from his head—a moment that appeared to be the tipping point in their confrontation. In response, Yamgha swiftly drew a black semi-automatic handgun from his pocket and fired at least two shots at Williams.
Williams collapsed to the floor, critically injured, while Yamgha fled the scene. Emergency responders arrived shortly afterward and attempted life-saving measures, but Williams succumbed to his injuries on-site, leaving behind grieving family members and a community shaken by the tragic loss.
Investigation and Evidence Leading to Arrest
The swift intervention of law enforcement and the availability of video surveillance footage were instrumental in identifying and apprehending Yamgha. Following the shooting, Hennepin County detectives reviewed the surveillance footage from the light rail station, which clearly showed the sequence of events leading up to the fatal shooting. Yamgha’s attire—specifically the blue baseball cap, green jacket, and sunglasses—helped investigators identify him as the shooter. This visual evidence proved crucial as authorities worked to establish Yamgha’s actions and motivations.
Detectives further narrowed down their search by locating the woman seen accompanying Yamgha in the video. She was later questioned and provided valuable information, confirming her relationship with Yamgha and offering critical details about the nature of the altercation. According to her statement, she and Yamgha had been dating at the time of the incident, and she corroborated the sequence of events captured in the video. She confirmed that the dispute leading to the fatal shooting was related to a small financial disagreement between Yamgha and Williams.
Another eyewitness was identified at the scene and questioned by law enforcement. This witness not only corroborated the woman’s account but was also able to provide details about the nature of the conflict. According to the witness, the confrontation was over a “small amount of money”—a fact that underscored the senselessness of the tragedy, as the altercation escalated to violence over what prosecutors described as a trivial amount.
Legal Proceedings: Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Tenzin Yamgha’s legal journey included nearly four years of procedural developments and delays, partially due to the complexities of the case and the backlog in court proceedings exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2024, Yamgha pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree unintentional murder, a serious charge that carries significant legal consequences in Minnesota.
Under Minnesota law, second-degree unintentional murder, or felony murder, applies when an individual causes the death of another person during the commission of a felony, without premeditation or intent to kill. Yamgha’s admission of guilt indicated that while he did not enter the altercation with an intent to kill, his actions in escalating the confrontation and ultimately pulling the trigger were deemed criminally reckless, leading to a fatal outcome. The judge handed down a sentence of 20 years, or 240 months, reflecting the gravity of the crime and Yamgha’s responsibility for the death of Malcom Williams.
As part of his sentencing, Yamgha will be required to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole, as per Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines. With time served and credit for good behavior, he could potentially be released in approximately 13 years, though any early release would still require approval by the parole board.
The Impact on the Williams Family and Community
For Williams’ family, the sentencing brings a bittersweet sense of closure. After nearly four years of awaiting justice, they have expressed a mixture of relief and enduring grief, as the finality of the legal outcome underscores the permanence of their loss. During the court proceedings, members of Williams’ family offered emotional statements, sharing memories of Malcom as a kind-hearted, joyful young man who had a positive influence on those around him.
Williams’ sister, speaking through tears, described the heartbreak of celebrating Christmas each year without her brother, as the holiday season now holds painful memories of the night she lost him. She recalled how Williams would light up a room with his laughter and his sense of humor, qualities that endeared him to his family and friends. “Malcom was a brother, a son, a friend, and someone who deserved so much more than to have his life taken in a moment of senseless violence,” she said. “Our family will never be the same without him.”
Hennepin County Attorney’s Remarks on Justice and Community Safety
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for violent actions, particularly in public spaces meant to serve as safe, accessible transit options for residents. “This case represents a tragic example of gun violence stemming from an argument that could have been resolved without loss of life,” Moriarty stated. “Our community deserves to feel safe using public transportation and frequenting public spaces, and we will continue to seek justice for victims and their families.”
Moriarty’s office has also acknowledged the time it took to resolve the case and expressed gratitude for the patience and resilience of Williams’ family, who waited nearly four years for justice. She reiterated her office’s commitment to prioritizing cases involving violence in public settings, especially those in which firearms are used to resolve disputes.
A Broader Conversation: The Impacts of Gun Violence and Public Safety
The tragic shooting and the subsequent sentencing have sparked a broader conversation in Minneapolis and surrounding communities about gun violence and public safety in transit areas. The fatal confrontation between Yamgha and Williams highlights the potential dangers that can arise in high-traffic areas like light rail stations, where public disputes can sometimes escalate to violence.
Advocates for gun control and community safety have used this case to underscore the urgent need for improved security measures in transit areas and more comprehensive mental health and conflict resolution resources. With incidents of gun violence on the rise, community leaders are calling for targeted interventions to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Possible measures include increased surveillance in high-risk areas, more significant law enforcement presence, and programs designed to encourage non-violent conflict resolution, particularly among young people and vulnerable populations.
Reflections on the Future and Moving Forward
As the Williams family seeks to heal, they are considering ways to honor Malcom’s memory and contribute to efforts aimed at preventing similar tragedies. Family members have expressed interest in partnering with local organizations focused on youth mentorship, conflict de-escalation, and mental health resources, in hopes of creating positive outcomes from their painful loss.
The Williams family, Hennepin County officials, and community members hope that this tragedy can serve as a catalyst for meaningful change, fostering safer public spaces and addressing the factors that often lead to violence in vulnerable settings.
