Why was Antonio España Estrada fatally shot as he left work at a St. Paul warehouse the day after Christmas?

Though a former co-worker is charged in the murder of the 37-year-old, his death is a mystery to his family.

The criminal complaint filed against the suspect doesn’t shed light on the topic, either.

España Estrada worked at J&P Trading Inc., a food distributor on St. Paul’s West Side, for 14 years and sent money back to Mexico to help his parents with medical concerns.

“They are heartbroken,” said Maria Mendoza Estrada, Antonio’s sister.

And España Estrada’s family wants to know why he’s gone.

“We don’t understand what the reason was and it’s hard because I feel like no one deserves to die like this,” said Maggie Ortiz, a niece of España Estrada’s.

SHOTS RANG OUT

Chee Kong Yang, 28, who is charged with second-degree murder in Estrada’s death, was in court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty. His attorney did not return a call seeking comment.

España Estrada, of St. Paul, was leaving work shortly before 5:30 p.m. Dec. 26 and walking across the parking lot of J&P Trading on State Street near Plato Boulevard.

A minivan was parked in the lot, and a man and woman inside were arguing. The criminal complaint said it was Yang and a woman he was dating.

The woman tried to restrain Yang from getting out, but he ran up to España Estrada and shot him in the torso, according to the complaint. He then shot España Estrada — who had fallen to the ground — multiple times, the complaint continued.

About 10 minutes after the shooting, police responded to the North End and found a minivan crashed through the fence of Oakland Cemetery at Sycamore and Jackson streets.

Police arrested Yang in the area.

The criminal complaint does not explain a motive for the shooting.

The woman in the van told police that she and Yang were drinking beer at his mother’s house that day. They drove to the West Side and Yang pulled into the parking lot by a warehouse. She heard a “click,” believed Yang had a gun and tried to physically keep him in the van, but he ran out, the complaint said.

A MAN WHO WAS FUNNY, ENCOURAGING

Yang last worked at J&P Trading three to four years ago, according to a company representative, who said he doesn’t know why Yang allegedly went there on Dec. 26.

España Estrada’s niece said she never heard her uncle express concern about anyone.

“From what we know, he was really friendly with everybody,” said Ortiz, who remembered España Estrada as funny and “always goofing around.”

He also provided encouragement to his nieces and nephews.

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St. Louis Park man, 23, accused of joining Islamic State, is returned to U.S. to face terrorism charges “He would tell us, ‘You guys have to do good in school because that will help you in getting better jobs,'” Ortiz said.

Now, España Espana’s family is left to plan his funeral — they will have one locally, and they are making arrangements to have his body sent to Mexico for a service with his family there and burial.

Rubén Rosario contributed to this report.