**Governor Tim Walz Opens Up About Son's Experience Witnessing a Shooting**

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz shared a deeply personal moment during a recent Vice Presidential debate, revealing that his teenage son, Gus, witnessed a traumatic shooting at a St. Paul community center last year. The incident occurred in January 2023 at the Jimmy Lee Rec Center, where a violent altercation resulted in a 16-year-old boy being shot in the head by an employee.

Gus Walz, then 17, was among approximately 100 young people present during the incident. According to Gus's volleyball coach, David Albornoz, Gus displayed remarkable composure during the chaos, helping to keep others safe and calm. Albornoz praised the teenager's leadership, noting Gus's efforts to look after his peers in a Facebook post shortly after Gus's enthusiastic support for his father at the Democratic National Convention went viral.

The shooter, identified as Exavir Dwayne Binford Jr., has since pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and received a 10-year prison sentence. Court documents reveal that the conflict started over Binford's displeasure when another employee allowed a girl to let her cousin inside the facility, undermining his authority. The situation escalated rapidly, culminating in Binford displaying a gun and, after a physical altercation with the 16-year-old and the girl, shooting the teenager in the head.

Governor Walz brought up this harrowing experience during a segment focused on the issue of gun violence in the United States. The emotional account elicited a compassionate response from Senator JD Vance, who expressed his sorrow and hope for healing for Gus.