Kraus Sentenced for Driving into Peaceful Protest, Killing One

On November 23, 36-year-old Nicholas Kraus, of Saint Paul, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for killing a woman while driving into a crowd of protestors in Uptown Minneapolis in June 2021, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Wednesday.

Kraus killed Deona Marie Knajdek, who had been attending a protest following the death of Winston Smith. The group of protestors had been peacefully protesting at the intersection of Girard Avenue and Lake Street in South Minneapolis's Uptown neighborhood.

Kraus pleaded guilty to Unintentional Murder in the Second Degree and Assault in the Second Degree on October. 24.

Three victim impact statements were read, including from Ms. Knajdek's mother and brother.