Grieving family shares memories of Larry Jiles Jr., aka Chef Hot Hands
ST. PAUL, Minn. – St. Paul police have released the identities of two men who were fatally shot at a celebration of life Saturday.
According to police, the victims were 34-year-old Larry Jiles Jr., of Hugo, and 37-year-old Troy Kennedy, of St. Paul.
No one has been arrested yet in the deadly shooting. Police say there was a fight in the parking lot outside the reception, but what led to the shooting is still unclear.
Three others were also injured in the shooting. Over the weekend, authorities said a man was in critical condition, one woman was in stable condition and another woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The shootings happened on the 500 block of North Dale Street near University Avenue at a senior living apartment building around 5:15 p.m. Saturday. The apartment building offers housing for low-income seniors ages 62 and older. The shootings happened after the ceremony, which was held in the building's community room.
Jiles' family says it was a relative's reception, and he had catered it.
"If he wasn't going to be a chef he would've been a pastor," said one of Jiles' family members.
"He would've been a motivational speaker," said sister Chanel Jiles.
Reflecting on Jiles' life brings smiles to the faces of his heartbroken family.
"He was very determined, and he just wanted to give good food and good energy to everyone," said Chanel Jiles.
He was one of six children. Growing up in Hugo, they spent plenty of time in the kitchen, learning from their father, "Chef Jive."
Jiles' dream of opening a restaurant became a reality during the pandemic in Centerville. Known as "Chef Hot Hands," he served up family meals to many.
"He used to say, 'If I could do it, anybody could do it. You can do it if I can do it,' and he would tell anybody that," Chanel Jiles said.
Jiles leaves behind his wife, Esmeralda, and his five children, ages 5 to 18.
"This one right here, she's a baker, so the bug is trickling down," said brother Rashad Jiles.
"Just to see everyone coming together for him, and seeing all that…people really loved him like just as much as I did," said daughter Jayda Jiles.
The family says the senseless act of violence, at a celebration of life, should spark a deeper conversation about gun violence.
"Me not living here, every time I hear something, you know, about what's going on here, it's hurtful and scary," said Rashad Jiles. "I fear for my nieces and family that does live here."
"Just because you come from an adverse background doesn't mean that you can't make a difference and make a change in your life, and I think that's what he did," Chanel Jiles said. "I know that's what he did."
It marked the second shooting in St. Paul in two days. On Friday evening, three teen boys were wounded in a drive-by shooting during a funeral reception for a 15-year-old boy who had been fatally stabbed at a St. Paul high school earlier this month.
