Families of two murder victims in Minneapolis are expressing outrage over a plea agreement that will allow the man who confessed to both killings to serve his sentences concurrently. Marquez Hill-Turnipseed, 24, admitted to being the gunman in the 2022 drive-by shooting of Eloe Lomax and the 2025 killing of bystander Stageina Whiting. Under the deal negotiated by the office of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, Hill-Turnipseed received a combined 40-year sentence, which, due to Minnesota's sentencing rules, could result in his release in less than 27 years.
The decision has deeply angered the victims' families, who argue that the two murders, occurring years apart, should have been treated as separate cases with consecutive sentences. Stageina Whiting's mother, Tasha Blanks, told KARE 11 that the concurrent sentencing fails to acknowledge the distinct nature of each crime and the separate devastation inflicted upon two families. Eloe Lomax's mother, Talanda Burks, echoed these sentiments, stating that her son's murder should have been addressed independently before the second killing. The aunt of Stageina Whiting, TT Toni, emphasized that each victim had a unique life and that their respective families are experiencing distinct grieving processes.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, who began her term in 2023 after a career as a public defender, has faced scrutiny for her progressive approach to criminal justice. Critics have labeled her one of the nation's most "woke" prosecutors, accusing her office of leniency, while supporters maintain her reforms aim to address systemic inequities. This case adds to a series of controversial charging and sentencing decisions during her tenure, including past clashes with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
The 2022 killing of Eloe Lomax was a drive-by shooting, followed three years later by the shooting at Boom Island that killed Stageina Whiting. The latter incident involved approximately 130 shell casings from five different firearms, leading a prosecutor to describe the scene as a "war zone." Hill-Turnipseed confessed to both murders after his arrest.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Michael Burns acknowledged the families' distress but indicated he would uphold the plea agreement. Burns, who has previously challenged plea deals from Moriarty's office, stated he would not act as a "rubber stamp." Hill-Turnipseed's apology to the victims' families was met with further anger when he attempted to equate his potential suffering with their loss.
A spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney's Office defended the plea deal, stating that no sentence can reflect the value of a life lost and that decisions are guided by trial strategy and public safety. The office asserted that Hill-Turnipseed will be removed from the community for decades, emphasizing his removal from society as a key outcome of the resolution.