Reporter | Breaking news, crime and corrections

Liz Sawyer  covers Minneapolis crime and policing at the Star Tribune. Since joining the newspaper in 2014, she has reported extensively on Minnesota law enforcement, state prisons and the youth justice system. 

Sawyer graduated from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in newspaper and online journalism. She worships her alma mater's college hoops team and thinks an orange is, in fact, a suitable mascot.


Teen who gunned down Zaria McKeever during home invasion sentenced to 10 years in prison

The murder case of 15-year-old Foday Kamara became a flashpoint in how the criminal justice system should punish juveniles accused of violent crimes.


Amid unsolved Minneapolis homicides, families await justice

A deadly three-year period at the height of the pandemic has left Minneapolis with the most open homicide cases in at least three decades.


Hennepin County Attorney inks contract with D.C. law firm to prosecute trooper Londregan case

The agreement includes an initial $1 million budget cap for legal services, billed at a blended rate of $850 per hour.


Two Minneapolis police officers earn Medal of Valor for daring water rescue of 4-year-old boy

A third officer earned a Lifesaving Award for his role in the emergency response last November.


Supporters, detractors briefly face off as trooper makes court appearance

Ryan Londregan is charged in the shooting death of Ricky Cobb II during a traffic stop last summer.


Minneapolis reaches $150k settlement with eyewitness of George Floyd's murder

Donald Williams, a former MMA fighter, has several criminal cases pending.


Records: Former Minneapolis police oversight head disparaged women, threatened staff

John Jefferson, a retired FBI agent, resigned in February after a lengthy HR investigation into numerous allegations, including his decision to reenact police restraint holds on civilian staff without warning or consent.


Orchestrator of Zaria McKeever killing gets life in prison

In a packed courtroom punctuated with emotion, the man who orchestrated the home invasion and killing of his ex-girlfriend by a pair of teenage brothers was sentenced to life in prison.


Judge: Minnesota state trooper's defense may call use-of-force expert for testimony

Judge Tamara Garcia ruled that the defense made a "plausible argument" that Jeffrey Noble's findings are relevant to the murder case, but denied a request to depose him ahead of an April 29 hearing.


Activists demand Minneapolis police contract negotiations be open to the public

They criticized city officials for agreeing to closed-door mediation to resolve long-expired police union contract.