ST. PAUL — Two people died in an altercation in St. Paul following a Saturday celebration of life.
Frogtown’s gunfire occurred less than 24 hours after a shooting in St. Paul that left three teenagers injured. Police said that the shooting occurred after a funeral.
Melvin Carter, the Mayor of St. Paul, said Saturday’s and Friday’s shootings “shaken our senses of security.” It’s simply heartbreaking.”
Carter stated Saturday that he was tired of using the words ‘disgusted, senseless, and ‘frustrating’. We’re tired of trying to find words to describe violence. Each one of our neighbors and every member of our community deserves to live in peace.
Officers were summoned Saturday at 5:15 PM to investigate a report about a shooting victim.
“When officers arrived they found a chaotic scene. They discovered that there was not just one person who had been shot but five,” stated Sgt. Mike Ernster, a spokesperson for the police.
The incident occurred in the parking lot at Frogtown Square. This area is home to apartments, businesses and other buildings on Dale Street and University Avenue. Officers learned that some victims had been driven to the local hospitals by others.
A man was declared dead by paramedics on the spot, while another man was declared dead at United Hospital by someone who drove him there.
One of the other victims is a man in critical condition, while another is a woman in stable conditions. The third victim is a woman being treated for injuries not life-threatening.
Ernster stated that preliminary information indicates that the shooting occurred in the parking lot following a celebration in the community room. As was the case on Friday night, the person being honored had not been a victim to violence.
Ernster stated that shots were fired after an altercation took place as the event was about to end. “Investigators are speaking with witnesses to try to determine what happened and who is responsible.”
As of Saturday night, no one was in custody. Although police said that no motive was known for the shootings at the scene, the incident did not seem random.
These homicides were the fourth- and fifth in St. Paul last year. Eight people were killed in the city last year, including a 28-year old who was shot and killed outside a funeral home in St. Paul’s West Side. Four others were also wounded and shot. The funeral was held for a victim of homicide.
Mayor, governor speak out
Carter was joined Saturday night at a press conference by Brooke Blakey, Neighborhood Safety Director, and Police Chief Axel Henry.
Carter stated, “We have always said that public safety doesn’t only concern what happens after a gun goes off. That public safety cannot be limited to what happens after someone calls 911.” “It has to be about proactive, data-driven interventions that a local community makes to decrease the frequency we call 911.”
Carter said that “nobody’s better” than St. Paul’s paramedics, who provided medical assistance and rushed victims to the hospital. St. Paul officers and investigators also assisted in holding the perpetrators accountable. The St. Paul Office of Neighborhood Safety was responsible for comforting traumatized people and working with the police to prevent the retribution killings.
Carter stated that guns are everywhere and policymakers must adopt common sense gun violence prevention reforms. Until then, however, any celebration or community institution can be invaded in such a tragic way.
Gov. Tim Walz tweeted Saturday night that gun violence in St. Paul was unacceptable. I am committed to increasing public safety funding, getting illicit guns off the streets, as well as addressing gang activity in order to end the violence cycle.
Police are continuing to investigate Friday night shootings at the Wellstone Center. This Wellstone Center houses El Rio Vista Recreation Center and Neighborhood House on St. Paul’s West Side. Ernster stated that a person in the vehicle opened fire on the building, and three teenagers, aged 14, 16 and 17 were killed.
In the building was held a post-funeral reception to honor Devin Denelle Edward Scott. Scott, 15 years old, was fatally attacked at Harding High School in February 2010. A 16-year-old has been charged with murder.
Police took a 16 year old into custody after Friday’s shootings. Police found him with a gun, and they are investigating his role in the shootings.
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