Masked man who ‘hunted’ and shot dead St. Paul man sentenced to 12 years in prison

A St. Paul man was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison in connection with the November 2024 murder of a 24-year-old man who authorities said was shot dead after being followed and “hunted.”

Jehovah M. Nelson, 20, was sentenced Tuesday under terms of a plea agreement. He was ordered to submit a DNA sample as part of the deal. He and another man, Kenneth E. Terry, who was 18 at the time, were charged in connection with the shooting death.

Dejaun Hemphill, 24, was with two cousins when he was shot near University Avenue and Rice Street on Nov. 5, 2024. Authorities said he and his cousins were being followed by two men, but were unaware they were being “hunted.”

A woman who was previously in a relationship with Terry reported that she had been hanging out with one of Hemphill’s cousins’ younger brothers, which was making Terry jealous. She said Terry had been bragging about Hemphill’s murder on social media, according to a criminal complaint.

Hemphill died at the hospital on Nov. 15.

Surveillance video showed the shooter was wearing a white Michael Myers mask — the killer character in the “Halloween” movies who wears a mask. A similar mask was later found in a vehicle associated with the two men, the complaint said.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office charged Nelson with second-degree murder and Terry with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. Nelson was also charged with two counts of attempted murder of Hemphill’s cousins who were with him.

Nelson pleaded guilty to second degree murder without intent; the other charges were dismissed.