On a quiet Monday afternoon in Saint Paul, three everyday people went to work at their local apartment leasing office like they did every single week. Adam Jeffrey Wilwerding, Dena Marie Silcox, and Nansi Fuentes-Zambrano were the friendly faces of the Davern Park Apartments in the Highland Park neighborhood. They were the ones who greeted folks, handed over keys, and helped keep the building running smoothly. Nobody could have imagined that July 20th would turn into an absolute nightmare.
Around four in the afternoon, gunshots rang out inside the 1500 block of Saint Paul Avenue. Screams echoed down the hallways as frantic neighbors grabbed their phones and dialed 911. When emergency responders rushed into the building, they stepped into a horrifying scene inside the leasing office. Twenty-one shell casings were scattered across the floor, marking the spot of an incomprehensible tragedy.
Officers found Adam and Dena near the front of the main office area. Both had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died right there on the scene. In a back room, officers found 25-year-old Nansi, who had been shot while desperately trying to escape through a window. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner later confirmed that all three suffered fatal gunshot wounds, ruling every death a homicide.
The news hit the Saint Paul community like a heavy fog. Nansi had worked at the complex for nearly six years, starting when she was just nineteen. Friends described her as a selfless young woman who lived for her family and adored her nieces and nephews. She was always quick to help anyone who walked through the front door, leaving a warm impression on everyone she met.
Dena and Adam were just as deeply rooted in the community. At 56, Dena was known around the property for her warm nature and caring attitude toward all the tenants. Adam, 43, was equally dedicated, always stepping up whenever a resident needed a hand. Neighbors who lived in the building for years remembered all three as genuinely good people who made the complex feel like a real home.
In the days following the shooting, community members, friends, and family gathered outside the building for an emotional vigil. People held candles, shared stories, and cried together as they tried to process the loss. The grief across Highland Park was thick, with neighbors leaning on each other just to get through the days. It was clear that the void left by these three workers would never truly be filled.
Today, the families and friends of Adam, Dena, and Nansi are left holding onto precious memories. They remember the laughter, the small acts of everyday kindness, and the lives cut short way too soon. As legal proceedings move forward, the city of Saint Paul continues to mourn three innocent people whose light will forever remain in the hearts of those who loved them.
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