ST. PAUL, Minn. — A man has been charged in connection with the shooting of a 17-year-old boy during a troubling encounter tied to financial disputes and personal grief, stemming from a house fire in December that claimed a life.
Gyaw Way, 61, faces a felony charge of first-degree assault causing great bodily harm in Ramsey County. The incident, which occurred on April 7, revolved around the aftermath of the December fire, described by authorities as accidental. However, police reports indicate that Way believed the boy’s father had some involvement in the tragedy, prompting the violent confrontation. The teenager sustained severe injuries, including damage to his liver and lung, yet is expected to survive.
Law enforcement received reports around 3:45 p.m. from the 1500 block of Hoyt Avenue East, a residential area in St. Paul. Officers arrived to find the young victim in the driver’s seat of an Acura, struggling to breathe and in significant pain. His father was present and informed the police that an unfamiliar older man had shot his son. Investigators later identified Way as the assailant. Following the incident, Way returned to the home where the shooting occurred, raising suspicions among officers who arrested him later that day.
According to charging documents, Way had been living at the Hoyt Avenue home with one of his sons after losing another child in the December fire at their own residence. Witnesses reported that Way had been overseas at the time of the tragic incident, which was determined to have originated near a space heater. While officials have not linked the boy’s father to the cause of the fire, those who witnessed the shooting indicated that Way harbored resentment toward him.
The meeting that led to the shooting was reportedly initiated by Way, who contacted the boy’s father regarding a debt from a trip to Thailand. The father, who has mobility challenges due to an amputation, drove to the meeting with his son. As they waited in the vehicle, Way approached and entered the Acura. Witnesses stated that Way’s son, Pah Ker Say, was also present. Moments later, a gunshot rang out.
The teen’s injuries were critical but not life-threatening, with the bullet impacting vital organs before he was transported to Regions Hospital, where he is expected to remain for approximately two weeks. The father, unable to assist because of his disability, faced the terrifying situation without much help.
The relationship between the two families adds complexity to the case; investigators revealed that Way had previously served as a caretaker for the victim’s father. This connection transformed the incident from a random attack into a tragic confrontation involving former acquaintances navigating a shared, painful history.
Following the shooting, authorities arrested Say on suspicion of attempting to conceal the firearm involved. Investigators discovered a 9 mm handgun in a green bag in the basement of the residence after obtaining a search warrant. Way was found wearing a bag that held more ammunition at the time of his arrest. Say later claimed that he attempted to take the gun from his father during the incident, though the teen countered this narrative, asserting that no struggle occurred.
In court filings, Way appeared intoxicated upon his apprehension and made remarks indicating an indifference toward the legal repercussions he might face. His case continues to unfold in Ramsey County District Court, where he was formally charged on April 9. His bail has been set at $200,000, with a hearing scheduled for May 13.
As details of this case emerge, it illustrates the devastating intersection of financial disputes, personal loss, and unresolved grief. With the December fire looming in the background, the key question remains whether Way’s beliefs about the boy’s father will be seen as justification for his violent actions. The outcome will depend on the evidence presented in court, including witness testimonies, recovered materials, and the medical condition of the young victim.