Inset: Gyaw Way (Ramsey County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The 1500 block of Hoyt Avenue East in St. Paul, Minnesota, where Way allegedly shot a teen boy (KARE).
In a shocking incident, a 61-year-old man from Minnesota has been accused of shooting a teenage boy in what appears to be a tragic act of misplaced vengeance. The suspect, identified as Gyaw Way, allegedly targeted the 17-year-old, blaming the boy’s father for a devastating fire last year that resulted in the death of Way’s own son. After the alleged shooting, Way reportedly returned indoors and casually lay on the couch, seemingly indifferent to the chaos he had caused.
Way now faces a serious charge of first-degree assault with great bodily harm. The dramatic events unfolded late Tuesday afternoon when police were dispatched to a residence on Hoyt Avenue East in St. Paul following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered the young victim, grievously wounded, in the driver’s seat of an Acura. The boy, who suffered a gunshot wound that pierced his liver and lung and fractured his ribs, was in visible agony. Although he is expected to recover, he faces an extended hospital stay of at least two weeks.
Investigations revealed that, following the shooting, Way entered the house where his 26-year-old son allegedly attempted to conceal the weapon in the basement. At the time of his arrest, Way was found carrying a green bag containing a box of 9 mm ammunition. Communication with the suspect was partly conducted in Karen, a language native to regions along the Thailand-Myanmar border, though he did express himself in some English. He is alleged to have repeatedly said “sorry,” “baby die,” and “no accident.”
The residents of the home where Way and his son had been staying recounted that the pair had moved in after the fire that tragically claimed the life of Way’s son. During the fire, Way was reportedly out of the country. According to police, Way lured the teenage victim and his father to the home under the pretense of settling a debt. Once inside the vehicle with them, Way allegedly opened fire on the young boy, a gunshot that was heard by the household members inside.
The suspect spoke in Karen, a language spoken along the Thailand-Myanmar border, but did speak some English. He allegedly said “sorry,” “baby die,” and “no accident.” Residents of the home where Way lived told cops that he and his son had been living with them after a fire had claimed the life of his son. The suspect was overseas at the time of the fire.
Way had apparently lured the victim and his father to the home under the guise that he would pay a debt, cops wrote. When the victim and his dad arrived, Way entered the Acura with them, cops wrote. That’s when Way allegedly shot the teen. The people inside the home heard the gunshot.
“Way was intoxicated, and he returned to the home and lay on the couch,” the affidavit stated. “Way made a comment wondering why they called police, and Way said he didn’t care that he was going to jail.”
The father of the victim said he has an amputated leg and Way was his caregiver. Way apparently blamed the victim’s father for the fire.
According to local NBC affiliate KARE, the December fire was accidental and started near a space heater.
Way remains in the Ramsey County Jail on a $200,000 bond. His next hearing is set for May 13.
