On a quiet Thursday that should have been filled with laughter and cake, 29-year-old Shaniya Thompson was fatally shot in her St. Paul, Minnesota apartment — a devastating turn of events that shocked her family and turned a child’s birthday into a nightmarish loss.
Police say the incident unfolded in the 500 block of Broadway Street around the afternoon of Dec. 11, when Thompson and her boyfriend, 33-year-old Wesley Koboi, got into a heated argument inside her home while their young children were nearby. According to investigators, the couple had been hosting a birthday celebration for one of their children when things turned violent.
Witness accounts collected by law enforcement reveal that during the heated dispute, Koboi allegedly pulled out a firearm, ordered the children into a bedroom, and moments later a loud bang echoed through the apartment. When officers responded to a call around 4:15 p.m. Friday, they found Thompson unresponsive with a fatal gunshot wound to her head. A firearm was recovered at the scene. Authorities believe the shooting actually occurred the day before, leaving a grim silence hanging over what was meant to be a joyful family occasion.
In the devastating aftermath, Koboi didn’t stay to face the consequences. Instead, according to police, he loaded Thompson’s frightened children into a vehicle and drove them over eight hours to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he left them with a relative. But the terrifying journey didn’t end there. Koboi then continued north, eventually crossing into Canada via Port Huron and making his way to Toronto.
Authorities tracked Koboi down in Toronto, arresting him on Tuesday, Dec. 16. He now faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with Thompson’s death, and Minnesota police are working with Canadian officials on extradition proceedings.
Thompson’s family has been left reeling by the loss. In a heartfelt GoFundMe post, her sister described Shaniya as a devoted mother of five — children who now must grow up without their mother and with memories of a trauma no child should endure. Family members say the kids heard the argument and the shot, and are now facing emotional and psychological challenges as they attempt to process what happened.
Friends and loved ones remember Shaniya as warm, loving, and full of life. What was supposed to be a bright moment for a birthday celebration will forever be marked by grief, loss, and the deep wounds left behind in a family shattered by violence.
