St. Paul man charged with murder after fatal dispute over moving a TV

Alvin James Smith, 20, has been charged with second-degree murder following a fatal shooting in St. Paul, Minnesota. The incident occurred on August 29 at a residence on Park Street.

According to court documents, the shooting arose from a dispute regarding moving a television. The victim, 27-year-old Demarcus Gibson-Beard, had reportedly asked Smith to help move the device from a vehicle into the home. The argument escalated into a physical fight between the two men. During the altercation, Smith allegedly produced a handgun and shot Gibson-Beard in the head.

The victim's mother, who was present during the incident, reported ongoing tension in the household, noting that she had previously asked Smith and her daughter to move out of the home. Smith reportedly fled the scene after the shooting but returned later and was arrested. Authorities recovered a handgun without a serial number from Smith during his arrest. Smith told investigators he possessed the weapon for ‘protection’ and admitted to aiming at the victim during the fight.