Tim Walz’s son witnessed a shooting at the St. Paul Recreation Center in 2023

Gov. Tim Walz mentioned publicly for the first time Tuesday night during the national vice presidential debate that his 17-year-old son Gus witnessed a shooting while playing volleyball at a recreation center.

The shooting outside the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center occurred on Jan. 18 and was widely reported, but Gus Walz’s presence that day did not become widely known until August, when he caused a stir by standing and tearfully supporting his father , who took the stage at the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago.

After Gus Walz’s moment went viral, St. Paul Parks aquatics supervisor and coach David Albornoz posted on social media about his friendship with the governor’s son. Albornoz talked about how he met Gus Walz through his love of volleyball and post-game tacos.

He also spoke about Gus Walz being in the building when the shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Jimmy Lee, located on the corner of Selby Avenue across from Central High School in Lexington. Albornoz wrote that Gus “helped keep everyone safe and calm by taking care of the kids in the gym with us while I rushed out.”

Gus was a sophomore at the time but is now a senior at Central High. A Walz spokesman confirmed Gus Walz’s presence.

Last year, Exavir D. Binford Jr., a 27-year-old recreation center employee and St. Paul resident, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in the shooting. He was sentenced to ten years in prison earlier this year.

According to the criminal complaint:

Binford said a teenager named JT and his group fought at Central and at Jimmy Lee’s house. Binford said central office staff called to warn recreation center staff of problems at the school and that recreation center staff locked the doors as a precaution, but a fight broke out among the girls.