Brian Quinones: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Brian Quinones, the barber who was killed in an officer-involved shooting in Richfield, Minnesota following a police chase he streamed on Facebook Live, was a father and aspiring hip-hop artist.

Quinones, 30, who lived in Minneapolis, was originally from Ponce, Puerto Rico. His full name is Brian Jesus Quinones-Rosario. A vigil for Brian Quinones Quinones turned into a march September 8, 2019, the night after his death. Protesters took over the freeway on I-494, chanting “enough is enough.”

In the hours leading up to his death, he shared his album, “T.I.M.E.: This Is My Everything,” to Soundcloud under the name Blessed The MC. He shared the album on Facebook, writing, “I Pray You Treasure It… My Hearts Inside It.”

Friends noted some of the lyrics seemed to foreshadow his death and the Richfield shooting. One of his last posts said, “So sorry.”

Police told the Star Tribune Quinones had a knife. The pursuit started when he ran red lights.

Quinones began recording about 12 minutes before he died. The Facebook Live video continued for another 97 minutes after he was shot and killed. You can watch the video here, but be forewarned that it is extremely graphic.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Facebook Live Captured Quinones’ Last Moments

Quinones began recording a Facebook Live video about 12 minutes before he died. On the video he can be seen listening to music and occasionally singing along. He can be seen running at least one red light on the video, but it was not clear exactly when the chase starts. He turns the video to face himself, and red and blue flashing lights can be seen. He sometimes glances in his rear-view mirror, but appears calm.

The car stops suddenly, and he jumps out of the vehicle. Police can be heard shouting, followed by the sound of about seven gunshots, followed by an additional five gunshots. The video continues for another 97 minutes while police secure the scene. At the end of the video, it appears that an officer notices the phone on the dashboard and realizes it is recording.

Be forewarned that the video is extremely graphic. You can watch the video here.

Edina Police and Richfield Police released a statement to Heavy, which said, “On Saturday, Sept. 7 at 10:22 p.m. a police pursuit that began in Edina, ended in an officer involved shooting near the intersection of 77th Street East and Chicago Avenue in Richfield. The incident involved officers from the Edina and Richfield Police departments. No officers were injured during the incident. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation. The Edina and Richfield Police Departments express our thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this tragic incident.”

“Because this is an active investigation, neither police department can comment,” the statement concluded.

Edina Police referred any further comment to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, which has taken over the investigation.

The Star Tribune reported police used a pursuit-intervention tactic, or PIT maneuver, to stop the vehicle.

2. Quinones, Who Worked the Night Shift at General Mills, Was Described as Having a ‘Great Heart’

Quinones worked the night shift at General Mills and was raising a 12-year-old son, according to KTSP-TV, which quoted his brother as saying he was a “musician, he was a barber, he was such a humble person. He just wanted to be heard.”

Hassan Qarei, who worked with him at General Mills, told the television station: “I lost my brother. He was my brother,” said Qarei. “A great person. Everybody in company loved him, he had a great heart.”

One of Quinones’ last Facebook posts said simply, “So sorry.” The words were posted at 9:23 p.m., just one hour before he died.

Friends commented on the post after his death, saying they believed he planned to be shot by police on video.

Two minutes after writing, “So sorry,” he wrote “Link” on Facebook.

Three days before his death, he made a poignant post on Facebook.

“In life… There are pivotal moments that propel you. Moments you’ve strived for since your inception. Moments that quite frankly you’re 1. Not ready for and 2. Too afraid to capture,” he wrote. “You’ll feel and know when that moment has arrived. At that point its fight or flight in an instant. I wholeheartedly pray you fight through. Otherwise you’ll look in that rearview and realize you’ve reached your destination before you enjoyed your final sunset. ‘These Days I’m Much More Grateful.'”

Police told the Star Tribune Quinones had a knife. Some said they could see the knife on the video, but it could not be confirmed through the video that Quinones was holding a knife. The pursuit that led to the shooting was initiated when he ran red lights.

3. Quinones Uploaded His Album ‘T.I.M.E.: This Is My Everything’ Before His Death & Described His Music as ‘Witty’

Quinones posted a Soundcloud link to his music at about 1:30 p.m., about nine hours before he died.

“I Pray You Treasure It… My Hearts Inside It ?” he wrote.

His Soundcloud profile describes Quinones as “an aspiring hip hop artist.” He called himself “Blessed the MC.”

His profile says, “I am an aspiring Hip Hop artist. My music is my interpretation of the world. I see the good as I do the evil. My lyrics can be profound at times, witty, catchy, inspiring, and everything inbetween. My inspiration comes from artists such as J Cole, Kanye, Jay Z, DMX, Jay Electronica, Kid Cudi, King Kendrick, Ab-Soul, Loaded Lux, Luda, Bone Thugz, Charles Hamilton, Nas, Tech N9ne, Eminem & the list goes on. No disrespect to the greats if I forgot them.My name ‘Blessed the MC’ comes from my perspective. They say you are what you think. Therefore, I am Blessed. I acknowledge my Gods gifts & it plays into the law of attraction. Please check out my music. I really give it my entire heart. Thank you & feel free to talk. I am only human. Cheers.”

He announced earlier in the day on Facebook he was going to upload his entire album, “T.I.M.E.: This Is My Everything,” on Soundcloud.

“To show you how much my art means to me… I’ll sacrifice streaming numbers….If you want the album TODAY I’ll upload it on SOUNDCLOUD,” he wrote. “Ready for that Ride?”

4. Quinones’ Lyrics Appear to Foreshadow His Own Death

Quinones dropped an album in the hours leading up to his death. Some of the lyrics appeared to foreshadow the police shooting.

“Get ready, cuz it’s gonna hurt, right?” he rapped “The Past Hurts.”

The song continued, “They killed him. This ain’t the way it’s supposed to go. They killed him, and I’m just supposed to be here.”

A friend shared a video which included the clip of his music.

“RIP Brian J Quinones. It’s Crazy how they did you. I’m in complete shock all this on FB Live,” she wrote. “Then what’s even more shocking I’m listening to your music and some of your lyrics almost describe what happend to you. This hurts and I’m So sorry … We lost a Real One.”

The album tracks include, “The Past Hurts,” “Present,” “My Time,” Grateful,” “Times Up” and “Future.”

The final track, “Future,” concludes with Quinones talking to his listeners.

“It’s been nice to see me,” he said with a laugh. “But it’s time for me to head back. Remember man, take time. Take a moment to love yourself. Love your life. Above all, spread love. Whatever you decide to do, it will inevitably impact me forever. This is my everything.”

5. Friends Called Brian Quinones a ‘Genuine’ Man Who Wanted to Do ‘Good in Life’ for His Family

A vigil for Quinones turned into a march the evening after his death. Protesters took over I-494 in Minneapolis, chanting, “enough is enough.” Quinones’ brother, Josh Quinones, mourned the loss at a memorial set up in the location of his Brian Quinones’ death.

Quinones’ friends flooded his Facebook page with heartbroken words in the hours after his death.

“bruh I’m so sick right now I’ve lost some of the most genuine people I’ve ever known this year I’m not even the same I’m too numb. Brian J Quinones why you ain’t just call me?” one person wrote.

Another person shared the Facebook Live video, writing, “They really just did my mans Brian J Quinones like that. I feel sick asf just watching this. like we just did a videoshoot together and everything. I don’t even know what to think rn.”

Another person also shared the video and wrote, “Not bro!!! Always been a stand up guy. Always wanted to do good in life for his family. I pray this isn’t what it is. He never did anything or carried. rest easy Brian J Quinones you’re free now.”

Another friend described him as a good person, and hoped that his life would not be defined by his last moments.

“Bro I’m sorry you had to go out like that, you a good dude, I know the media gonna try to make it seem like u not but u a good person. All you wanted to do was make music and leave your legacy for your son. All the talks we had, you was full of life. A super dope music artist, barber, painter, and a good dad. I cant believe it ended like this. Man Brian J Quinones love you bro. Until the next time we meet again. R.i.P.,” he wrote.

Quinones was from Ponce, Puerto Rico and lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to his Facebook page.

He had at least one child, and was an aspiring hip hop artist. Quinones’ Facebook page says he worked at General Mills. He was also a barber and a painter. Friends wrote on his Facebook page that he was a good dad.

In his profile picture, he had a young boy on his shoulders. It appeared Quinones was teaching him how to become a barber.

READ NEXT: Police Chase, Deadly Shooting Streamed on Facebook Live in Richfield, Minnesota