Emotions erupted inside a Ramsey County district courtroom Tuesday as an 18-year-old was sentenced for murder in a case court officials described as an example of the “never-ending cycle” of violent retaliation.

The outburst began after District Judge Adam Yang described Kyuntay Prowell’s decision to fatally shoot Aaron Haywood Delaney, 20, outside a St. Paul gas station this past January as “evil.”

Several of Prowell’s family and friends started screaming and swearing at the judge as well as Delaney’s loved ones on the other side of the courtroom.

One woman called Delaney a “gangbanger” and a “monster,” as deputies ordered her and the rest of Prowell’s supporters out of the courtroom.

“Up and out, now,” one deputy yelled.

Yang then picked up where he left off, adding that he wished Prowell’s family and friends could have held their composure so they could hear what he had to say next.

“Mr. Delaney did not deserve to have his life taken away,” Yang said. “This has to stop. This retaliation has to stop.

“When you get angry and you want to use a fist or a weapon, pick up a pen instead and start to write,” Yang said.

He added that if Prowell had exercised that kind of restraint Jan. 29, “the outcome could have been very different.”

Prowell shot Delaney during an argument outside of a Holiday gas station at 1444 E. Minnehaha Ave.

Video captured at the scene showed Delaney removing a gas nozzle as he and someone in a nearby car started to “exchange words,” court documents say.

Prowell got out of the car and walked toward Delaney, prompting Delaney to grab a nearby windshield squeegee.

Related Articles Man reports he had to stab his dog after attack in St. Paul; police investigating

Suspect sends Rochester police suicidal messages, flees, dies causing head-on collision

Marchers shut down I-94 through St. Paul to protest Breonna Taylor decision

St. Cloud bicyclist killed by hit-and-run driver, State Patrol says

St. Paul man charged in connection with gang-related drive-by shooting At some point, Prowell ran at Delaney with a gun and Delaney retreated toward his vehicle’s driver’s-side door.

That’s when Prowell shot him four times. Delaney was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Prowell took off on foot.

Police chased Prowell and arrested him a short time later. Prowell had shot himself in the back of a home nearby.

He was taken into custody and treated at a hospital before being transported to jail.

While it wasn’t previously clear whether Prowell’s gunshot wound was intentional, when asked by Yang on Tuesday he acknowledged that it had been.

Yang made note of Prowell’s mental health issues during the hearing and said he hopes the young man will work to address them while in prison.

Prowell was sentenced to 30 years in prison on one count of intentional second-degree murder.

He pleaded guilty in March.

When given the chance to speak at the hearing, Prowell cast at least partial blame on Delaney.

He said the last time he’d seen him before the fatal shooting, Delaney threatened him with a gun.

“I am not right in nothing that I did but it just happened,” Prowell said. “I can’t take it back.”

Delaney’s mother and sister also addressed the court during the hearing as several of their loved ones listened tearfully from the gallery.

His mother described his life as “precious” and said she hasn’t been able to function well since his death.

His sister said his murder “drowns (her) family in sorrow and pain.”

Related Articles Man reports he had to stab his dog after attack in St. Paul; police investigating

Suspect sends Rochester police suicidal messages, flees, dies causing head-on collision

St. Cloud bicyclist killed by hit-and-run driver, State Patrol says

St. Paul man charged in connection with gang-related drive-by shooting

Driver who killed Ramsey County deputy’s wife sentenced for another DWI Her brother, she said, “was one of the best brothers you could have.”

Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Andrew Johnson said the case is a “perfect example” of the ongoing ripple effects of retaliatory violence.

“We have a courtroom of people’s lives who will never be the same because of one person’s decision,” he said.