Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : Crystal Man Sentenced to Over Three Decades in Prison for Shooting Pregnant Mother
ST PAUL, Minn. — Paul Dwayne Harris, a resident of Crystal, Minnesota, has been sentenced to 38.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to the shooting of 21-year-old Gabrielle Dehoyos last March. Dehoyos, a mother of three, was tragically sitting in a car at the corner of St. Anthony Avenue and Marion Street when Harris pulled up in another vehicle and opened fire. The intended target was the driver of the car, but sadly, Gabrielle was the one who suffered the fatal shot.
Following the incident, Dehoyos was immediately rushed to Regions Hospital, where she underwent surgery. However, doctors discovered that she had no detectable brain activity and she tragically passed away the following day.
During the investigation, the driver of the car Dehoyos was in informed the authorities that a man known as “Pauly P” was responsible for the shooting and had actually pointed the gun at him. After examining pictures on Facebook, law enforcement officials identified “Pauly P” as Paul Dwayne Harris. Although Harris initially denied being the shooter, he eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
The courtroom was filled with raw emotions as victim impact statements were delivered. Gabrielle’s mother, Denise Dehoyos, tearfully described receiving the devastating phone call about her daughter being shot and recounted holding her hand all night after surgery, desperately hoping for her recovery. Her sister, Charlotte, spoke of the void in her heart and the memories she cherishes of Gabrielle’s infectious laughter and playful pinches.
Gabrielle’s father addressed Harris directly, expressing that while the Dehoyos family must endure a life sentence without their beloved daughter, Harris should bear the true weight of guilt. He made it clear that forgiveness and forgetting were out of the question.
Ramsey County District Court Judge Maria Mitchell handed down a 38.5-year sentence, of which Harris will serve just over 25 years. He will receive credit for the 260 days already served in jail. Judge Mitchell expressed hope that Harris would use his time in prison to reflect on his actions and make amends to the Dehoyos family by striving for personal growth and violence prevention.
However, Harris seemed unaffected by the messages conveyed to him in court. As he stood up and made provocative gestures, he was escorted out by deputies while both his supporters and members of Gabrielle’s family exchanged heated words.
The tragic loss of Gabrielle Dehoyos has left a void in the hearts of her loved ones, who will forever mourn her absence.