Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced today that Donte Rapheal McCray, 33 of St. Louis Park, was sentenced to 47 years in prison by Judge David Lutz in connection with the fatal shooting of 31-year-old Kyla Bianca O'Neal and her newborn son Messiah Edward O'Neal. Mr. McCray pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder by drive-by shooting in early October. He was sentenced to 306 months on the count related to the murder of Kyla O'Neal and 261 months on the count related to the murder of Messiah O'Neal, to be served consecutively (total of 567 months).
According to the criminal complaint, the shooting occurred on Jan. 8, 2023, at a business parking lot in Lakeville. Ms. O'Neal was pregnant at the time of the shooting and was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. Messiah was born that night by emergency caesarean and died nine days later.
“Mr. McCray will now be held accountable for the senseless murder of both Kyla and Messiah," said Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena. “I'd like to extend my sincere condolences to family, friends and loved ones of Kyla and Messiah."
Keena praised Assistant Criminal Division Head Stacy St. George and Assistant County Attorney Caitie Prokopowicz, who prosecuted this case.
Mr. McCray remains in custody at the Dakota County Jail awaiting transfer to the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
The facts pertaining to this case can be found in the criminal complaint at Criminal Complaint Search.