The quiet community of Lexington, Minnesota, was shaken in the early hours of Wednesday, March 18, 2026, when authorities discovered the bodies of 44‑year‑old Jennifer Sue Marsaw and her 5‑year‑old son, Marzai Andrew Dawson, inside their home.
Deputies from the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call at 12:50 a.m. reporting a shooting at a residence in the 9300 block of Ryan Place. When officers entered the home, they found Jennifer deceased from a gunshot wound and Marzai gravely injured.
Paramedics rushed Marzai to a nearby hospital, but despite emergency efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Investigators quickly identified 53‑year‑old Irving Van Marsaw, Jennifer’s estranged partner, as the suspect. According to a criminal complaint, a child inside the home had called 911 and reported that her mother and brother had been shot by Irving. The shocking details prompted an immediate and extensive law‑enforcement response throughout the neighborhood.
Officers deployed a K‑9 unit to search the area surrounding the residence. The dog tracked Irving’s scent through nearby yards and wooded patches until locating him not far from the home. During the apprehension, the K‑9 assisted officers in subduing him. Irving was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the arrest and was later released into the custody of the Anoka County Jail, where he is being held pending formal charges.
Court filings indicate that Irving had allegedly threatened Jennifer in the past, and investigators believe the killings occurred only hours after she told him she intended to take him to trial. Prosecutors have charged him with two counts of second‑degree murder, and he is being held on $5 million bail. Authorities have not released further details about the events leading up to the shooting, but the criminal complaint outlines a pattern of escalating conflict between the estranged couple.
The deaths of Jennifer and Marzai have devastated the Lexington community, where neighbors described Jennifer as a loving mother devoted to her children. Friends and relatives have expressed profound grief, struggling to comprehend the violent loss of two lives taken so suddenly. The tragedy has also renewed conversations about domestic violence and the dangers faced by individuals attempting to separate from abusive partners.
As the investigation continues, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with additional information to come forward. Prosecutors are preparing for Irving’s first court appearance, and the community remains united in mourning as they await justice for Jennifer and Marzai. The home on Ryan Place, once a quiet family residence, now stands as the center of a heartbreaking case that has left lasting shock throughout the region.