A Minnesota man is facing criminal vehicular homicide charges after allegedly striking and killing a pedestrian in Little Canada, then driving directly to a McDonald's drive-thru to order food. Alex Ray Kisch, 36, was taken into custody shortly after the incident, which police say occurred around 2:25 a.m. on Sept. 20 at the intersection of Viking Drive and Lillehei Plaza.
Background
The investigation began when first responders arrived to find a 58-year-old man, identified in the complaint as JDH, lying facedown on the north side of the road. The scene was chaotic: pieces of a vehicle and what appeared to be the victim's groceries were scattered across the asphalt. The victim suffered an abrasion on the back of his head, a missing section of hair, and drag marks on his knees and belt. Police traced vehicle debris recovered at the scene, including a broken side mirror, to a Nissan Rogue. Approximately two hours later, a Ramsey County sheriff's deputy located a Rogue in the parking garage of the Grand Pre Apartments, where Kisch resided. The SUV exhibited fresh damage to its front passenger side and mirror, with a missing body clip that matched debris found at the crash site. Investigators also discovered gray hairs on the windshield, hood, and grille, along with approximately six droplets of blood between the passenger-side doors. McDonald's food wrappers were observed inside the vehicle. When police contacted Kisch at his apartment around 6:42 a.m., he smelled of alcohol and wore a wristband from Fulton Brewery and a stamp on his hand indicative of a bar or club visit. Although Kisch acknowledged owning the 2023 Nissan Rogue, he declined to answer questions about the damage. Upon being advised of his rights and told that his vehicle had struck a deceased pedestrian, Kisch reportedly widened his eyes and asked, 'Homicide? How is that…' before lowering his head and stating, 'That's insane.'
The Investigation
Surveillance footage provided a critical timeline of events. Video showed the victim leaving a Speedway at 1:24 a.m. carrying groceries and walking eastbound through a McDonald's parking lot and along Viking Drive. Shortly after, the Nissan Rogue belonging to Kisch was captured traveling westbound on Viking Drive and pulling into the McDonald's parking lot. The passenger-side mirror was already damaged and hanging from the vehicle as it proceeded through the drive-thru, received food, and departed. Additional surveillance from the Grand Pre Apartments showed Kisch leaving his garage at 2:01 a.m. with an intact mirror and returning at 2:11 a.m. with the mirror damaged and hanging off the side. He was seen walking around the passenger side of the vehicle before entering his apartment. A search of Kisch's phone revealed he had taken a 10-second video of a DJ at a bar at 12:52 a.m. and paid an Uber driver $29.93 at 1:42 a.m. for a ride from Minneapolis to his home. In recorded calls from the Ramsey County Jail, Kisch discussed the incident with his father, stating, 'I made a bad decision and bad consequences came of it.' He claimed he had already been home, taken an Uber, and then 'just went to get some food,' describing the situation as 'rock bottom.'
The Charges
Court records indicate that Alex Ray Kisch has been charged with one count of criminal vehicular homicide for allegedly causing a collision that killed a pedestrian and leaving the scene. The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office arrested Kisch following the discovery of the damaged vehicle and the matching debris. A judge has ordered Kisch detained on $500,000 bond. An autopsy determined that the victim suffered catastrophic injuries, including broken ribs, fractures to the spine, a skull fracture, bleeding in the brain, and spinal cord injuries.
Key Takeaways
- Alex Ray Kisch, 36, is charged with criminal vehicular homicide for allegedly killing a pedestrian and fleeing.
- Surveillance shows Kisch drove through a McDonald's drive-thru with a damaged mirror shortly after the crash.
- Vehicle debris, including a side mirror and blood droplets, linked Kisch's Nissan Rogue to the scene.
- Kisch told his father he 'just went to get some food' after the incident, which he described as 'rock bottom.'
- The victim, identified as JDH, suffered catastrophic injuries including skull and spinal fractures.
- Kisch is being held on $500,000 bond in Ramsey County Jail.
What's Next
It was not immediately clear when Kisch is scheduled to return to court. The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare for upcoming legal proceedings regarding the fatal collision and the alleged hit-and-run.