A man in Minnesota, 53‑year‑old Irving Van Marsaw, is accused of fatally shooting his estranged partner, 44‑year‑old Jennifer Sue Marsaw, and her 5‑year‑old son, Marzai Andrew Dawson, in Lexington on the night of March 17, 2026, hours after Jennifer told him she was going to take him to trial.
Pattern of abuse and restraining orders
Court records and media reports indicate that Irving Marsaw had a history of abusing Jennifer, including assaults and threats to kill her as recently as March 3. Jennifer filed for restraining orders in November 2025 and again in February 2026, describing threats to her life and her children’s lives, as well as being followed and having her home entered without permission; both orders were later withdrawn by her about a month after being issued.
What happened the night of the shooting
On March 17, Jennifer kicked Irving out of the house after an argument in which he held a knife, and later told him by phone that she was going to take him to trial; he reportedly replied, “Bet,” and hung up. A few hours later, shortly after midnight, Jennifer’s daughter and two siblings went for a short walk near their home on Ryan Place. When they returned, they heard several “pops,” and the youngest brother ran inside to see Irving leaving the front door holding a handgun.
He then ran into the house and came back screaming that their mother and little brother were shot; the children ran to a neighbor’s house to call 911. Police found Jennifer with a gunshot wound to the chest and Marzai still breathing but critically wounded; he was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
Arrest and investigation
Officers used prior contacts and the description to quickly identify Irving Marsaw as the suspect and set up a perimeter. A K‑9 unit helped locate him hiding in a wooded area a few blocks away; he was taken into custody at 1:33 a.m., and a 9 mm handgun was later found across the street behind the home.
In custody, Irving allegedly made comments suggesting the shootings were “in the heat of passion.” The medical examiner ruled that Jennifer died from a contact‑range gunshot to the chest and Marzai from a contact‑range gunshot to the back; two spent bullets and an unspent round were found near their bodies. Irving Marsaw is being held on $5 million bail and faces two counts of second‑degree murder, with an initial court appearance already held and a return date set for April 14.
