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Who was Deona Knajdek? Minnesota woman mowed down at Winston Smith shooting site

Deona Marie Knajdek, a mother of two, was attending the protest against the shooting of Winston Smith when she was allegedly killed

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: A man reportedly attacked a group in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while they were protesting at the site where a Black man Winston 'Boogie' Smith was shot dead by police officers. A woman was killed when a driver rammed his car at the site and she has been identified as Deona Marie Knajdek. She was using her car as a blockade, according to the reports.

The incident took place on June 13, when the suspect crashed his car into the protesters, killing one and putting another in 'very critical' condition. According to reports, the demonstrators had gathered outside a parking garage where 32-year-old Smith was killed earlier this month. Smith was shot dead only blocks from George Floyd Square after he allegedly resisted arrest and pulled a gun on US marshals on June 3.

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Who is Deona Marie Knajdek?

Deona Marie Knajdek, a mother of two, was protesting the shooting of Winston Smith when she was allegedly killed. Her brother, Garrett, told the Star Tribune that 32-year-old Deona was "using her car as a street blockade" when another vehicle suddenly "struck her vehicle and her vehicle struck her". Garrett further added, "She was constantly sacrificing herself for everyone around her, no matter the cost, obviously."

According to the police, the suspect was arrested and three people were hurt in the incident. Video footage showed the suspect being held in a chokehold as he resisted arrest. The person filming the video was heard saying, "This - just came through 100 miles an hour, smashed this car and he just f***ing killed her." Police informed that the suspect is in custody but his motive remains unknown at the moment. Police also said the medical examiner will release the cause of death of the victim in the coming days.

The incident comes just days after Minneapolis erupted in protests after cops shot dead Winston Boogie Smith Jr. Smith, 32, was wanted on an arrest warrant for possession of a firearm. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in a statement after his death, "Evidence at the scene indicates that the man fired his weapon from inside the vehicle. BCA crime scene personnel recovered a handgun as well as spent cartridge cases from inside the driver’s compartment." Smith, who was a convicted felon, had been arrested 20 times since 2007. While people were making a shrine for him on late Sunday night, the accused driver plowed his vehicle into them. He was taken out of the car by demonstrators before police detained him.

Some Twitter users identified the accused as Nicholas David Kraus, an alleged woman beater, who "intentionally drove his car, in Minneapolis, going 100MPH," into a group of protesters killing Deona Marie Knajdek. However, no official confirmation has been given by the police on the identity of the suspect yet.