Shaniya Thompson, 29, was tragically shot and killed inside her St. Paul, Minnesota, apartment on December 11, 2025, turning what should have been a joyful child’s birthday celebration into a devastating loss for her family and community.

According to police, Thompson and her boyfriend, 33-year-old Wesley Koboi, were involved in a heated argument inside the apartment while their young children were present. Investigators say the dispute escalated during the celebration.

Witnesses told authorities that Koboi allegedly ordered the children into a bedroom before a gunshot was heard. When officers responded to a call around 4:15 p.m. the following day, they found Thompson unresponsive with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. A firearm was recovered at the scene.

After the shooting, police say Koboi fled with the children, driving them more than eight hours to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he left them with a relative. He then continued north, crossing into Canada and traveling to Toronto.

Koboi was arrested in Toronto on December 16 and now faces a second-degree murder charge. Minnesota authorities are coordinating with Canadian officials to proceed with extradition.

Thompson is remembered as a loving and devoted mother of five. Her family says her children are now coping with profound trauma, and loved ones continue to grieve a life taken far too soon in an act of domestic violence that has left lasting scars.