Still Waiting for Answers: Why Half of Minnesota's Violent Crimes Go Unsolved

In 2024, 47 percent of violent crimes reported to police in Minnesota were solved. This is 3 percentage points lower than the solve rate in 2014. In Minnesota, we are underfunding, understaffing, and neglecting the most important thing law enforcement can do to prevent crime. Solving violent crimes sends a message that criminal behavior will not be tolerated, which deters future offenses, provides a sense of justice for victims, reduces the urge to retaliate, and builds public trust in law enforcement agencies.

On October 1, the Minnesota Justice Research Center (MNJRC) partnered with the Ramsey County Prosecutor's Office and the Center of the American Experiment to present on the importance of solving violent crimes to the Minneapolis City Council Public Health and Safety Committee. A video of the hearing is linked at the bottom of this post. Katrina Mendoza's testimony highlights the heightened anguish of unsolved homicides and the steps that can be taken to improve the investigative process:

Katrina Mendoza Garcia

“Members of the Public Health & Safety Committee,

My name is Katrina Mendoza Garcia, I am the mother of 23-year-old Gabriel “Dino” Mendoza, who was fatally shot on Oct. 16, 2022 while working as a security guard at an Uptown Minneapolis club Firehouse. It's been nearly three years and his case remains unsolved.

I am not here to bash the Minneapolis police department. I know they are understaffed and overworked - especially when it comes to investigations. The small group of investigators in the city are tasked with working homicides, nonfatal shootings, overdoses and suicides. Their caseloads are too high. 

I recognize there are diligent detectives sincerely interested in bringing justice in Gabe’s case and remain hopeful they can get a breakthrough and solve the murder.

That being said, the crime scene and investigation protocols and practices can be improved. 

When my husband and I arrived at the crime scene worried that my son had been victimized, officers were cold and callous toward me, unwilling to answer questions.

The investigation missed several steps including DNA collection, interviewing witnesses, and securing security footage from the area.

The police did not immediately follow up or do a home visit to collect information on Gabe.

My first call about Gabe’s murder, they insinuated “Gabe ran with a hard crowd” and suggested it was related to his activism with the Brown Berets and Black Panthers. This felt like victim-blaming when Gabe was clearly caught in the crossfire of a spate of shootings at the club while working as security that night.

Our family has had to resort to do-it-yourself investigations including a billboard, getting him featured on CrimeStoppers, hiring an LED truck for 8 hours on New Year’s Eve night to drive around with his face and story and then park in front of the club where he was killed. We even raised a $10,000 reward. We hosted a series of community meetings to get the word out and partner with other families experiencing the same loss to gun violence.

Our family is fortunate to have a large community of support and network, but what about the families of victims that do not have this?

Key takeaways:

• Minneapolis needs a fully staffed investigations unit. A threadbare department cannot perform quality investigations

• The department should hire a liaison specific for victims and families of gun violence. This does not have to be an officer but could be professional staff to keep people updated on the progress of investigations and assist detectives with behind-the-scenes work

• Develop investigators with people skills to build relationships with victims and their families, witnesses, and the community. This will build trust to help solve more crimes”

Testimony by Katrina Mendoza Garcia

Watch a recording of the City Council Hearing:

MNJRC’s 2025 Reimagining Justice Conference: Committing to Progress in Policing will feature a panel discussion on clearance rates titled “Refocusing Policing: How We Can Get Better at Solving Crimes.” Happening Thursday November 20th, 2025, this year's event will convene community voices from across the criminal leg

al system to connect, exchange ideas, and recommit to transforming policing in Minnesota five years after the murder of George Floyd. Learn more at mnjrc.org/conference.