Willmar Shooting: Two Killed, One Critically Injured in Rau Park Gunfire
Two young men were killed and another was critically injured in a shooting at Rau Park in Willmar, Minnesota, as police continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the deadly gunfire.
The shooting occurred at approximately 8 p.m. on Monday, September 21, 2026, in the 1000 block of 7th Street Northwest, near the Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds.
The two people killed were identified by Willmar police as Alexis Antonio Quintanilla Deras, 19, of Willmar, and Yasir Diriye Kahin, 20, of Willmar.
A third victim, Guled Fahran Abdi, 19, who formerly lived in Willmar and was residing in Bloomington, was critically injured and transported to a hospital in St. Cloud.
Despite searches for a “Willmar shooting today,” there is currently no verified indication of a separate major shooting in Willmar on October 3, 2026. The Rau Park case remains the most recent significant shooting under active public reporting.
What Happened
Willmar police were dispatched to Rau Park at about 8 p.m. after receiving reports of gunshots and information that multiple people may have been injured.
When police officers and emergency medical personnel reached the park, they located two young men suffering from gunshot wounds.
Emergency responders immediately began providing lifesaving treatment.
Kahin and Abdi were transported by ambulance to a Willmar hospital.
Kahin later died from his injuries.
Because of the seriousness of Abdi’s condition, he was subsequently flown by helicopter to a hospital in St. Cloud, where authorities initially reported him in critical condition.
A third shooting victim, Quintanilla Deras, had been transported to the Willmar hospital in a private vehicle. He was also pronounced dead.
The incident left two families grieving and prompted a major law-enforcement investigation in the west-central Minnesota community.
Victims Identified
Police subsequently released the names of the three men involved after family notification procedures had been completed.
The deceased were:
Alexis Antonio Quintanilla Deras, 19, of Willmar.
Yasir Diriye Kahin, 20, of Willmar.
The surviving victim was identified as:
Guled Fahran Abdi, 19, a former Willmar resident who was living in Bloomington at the time of the shooting.
Authorities initially reported that Abdi remained hospitalized in critical condition.
No later authoritative update located during this review establishes a different medical status, so his current condition should not be assumed.
Police Investigation
Willmar police secured Rau Park following the shooting and began interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was brought in to help process the crime scene.
Investigators have been working to determine what happened before the shooting, what role each person at the scene may have played and whether additional individuals were involved.
Police have publicly appealed for information from anyone who witnessed the shooting or possesses information that could help investigators.
Authorities emphasized that even information that might appear insignificant could prove useful in reconstructing the events leading to the gunfire.
As of the most recent reliable public reporting located for this update, authorities had not publicly announced an arrest in connection with the shooting.
Was the Shooting Random?
Police have said they believe the Rau Park shooting was an isolated incident and was not a random act of violence.
Authorities also said they did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the general public.
That assessment does not establish a motive.
Police have not publicly released a definitive explanation for what caused the confrontation or identified the reason gunfire erupted.
Investigators have therefore urged the public not to speculate while the case remains active.
Where Did the Shooting Happen?
The shooting occurred at Rau Park in the 1000 block of 7th Street Northwest in Willmar.
The park sits near Foot Lake and close to the Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds.
Emergency activity temporarily affected the area while police and state investigators processed the crime scene.
Residents living nearby described the shooting as disturbing because the park is generally regarded as a community recreation area.
The presence of gunfire in a public park also prompted police to acknowledge the concern and fear such violence can create among residents.
