A woman working on an art project outside a building in St. Paul’s Lowertown was killed in a daytime shooting on Wednesday.
Officers were called just before 5:20 p.m. to the 200 block of East Kellogg Boulevard about multiple reports of shots fired. In an alley, they found a woman with apparent gunshot injuries, according to police.
The Lowertown Lofts Artists Cooperative said it was one of their members who was working on an art project outside their building on Kellogg Boulevard between Wacouta and Wall streets.
“We don’t have a lot of information right now, but we are working closely with the authorities to resolve this tragic event,” the cooperative said in a statement. “We ask that our friends and neighbors not speculate about the situation. Our community is in shock and grief as we grapple with the unimaginable.”
Officers determined the suspect left the area in a vehicle, according to the police department. Police hadn’t announced an arrest as of Wednesday night.
UPDATE: St. Paul officers fatally shoot person in relation to Lowertown artist’s homicide
Homicide investigators had not determined as of Wednesday night whether the victim and suspect knew each other, said Sgt. Mike Ernster, a St. Paul police spokesman.
Investigators “are laser focused on determining what happened, who was responsible, getting that person into custody and presenting a case to the Ramsey County Attorney to hold them responsible,” Ernster said. They ask anyone with information to call them at 651-266-5650.
The shooting “took the life of a woman and shook the collective sense of security of the Lowertown neighborhood,” Ernster said. “We understand the trepidation and need for answers to what happened here. We want those answers also, but those answers take time.”
Police said they will release the name of the victim, who died at the scene, after the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office confirms her identity.
Wednesday’s homicide was the 20th of the year in the city. There were 24 homicides as of this time last year.
The St. Paul Police Department counts 19 homicides this year because the department’s records are for cases investigated by the city’s police department. Another homicide in St. Paul this year was investigated by Metro Transit Police.
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