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Crime, Law and Justice
The Associated Press and MPR News Staff

St. Paul police say 7 people hurt in overnight shootings

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Updated: 7:10 p.m.

St. Paul city leaders spoke out Sunday after seven people were injured and dozens of gunshots fired in at least three incidents Saturday night and Sunday morning.

"One shot fired is one shot too many in our community (and) 100 shots fired is far too many in our community," Mayor Melvin Carter said at a Sunday afternoon news conference. "What happened last night is something that we can never accept."

Carter said the city is keeping "all options on the table" for addressing the violence.

According to preliminary reports, officers responded after hearing gunfire shortly after 1:30 a.m. Sunday and found multiple gunshot victims at a gas station on the 600 block of Rice Street. Two wounded people were taken to a local hospital by ambulance and a third person was taken in by a private vehicle. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Another shooting happened about 2 a.m. at a house party with about 100 people on the 800 block of Selby Avenue. Four people suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Police Chief Todd Axtell said officers found 108 shell casings inside the home and on the street, and several nearby cars and buildings were hit by gunfire. Axtell said some in the crowd of people tried to prevent officers from investigating the shooting.

Police also are investigating gunfire that broke out at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday on the 500 block of Central Avenue. Two men in their mid-20s told investigators that three other men approached them and started shooting. The two men, both of whom had valid gun permits, returned fire. No one was injured, but a bullet hit an elementary school and several vehicles were hit, police said.

At last report Sunday there had been no arrests in any of the shootings, police said.

“I want St. Paul to understand that all hands are on deck in this regard. We will not rest until we find everyone responsible for pulling these triggers in our city,” Axtell said at the Sunday afternoon news conference. “Over 150 shell casings (from all three incidents). Seven people injured by gunfire last night in St. Paul. I've been on this job in St. Paul for 32 years and I've never seen this happen before.”

"We have some cycles at play in our communities that act over and over and over and over and over again — not just this past year, not just this past few years, but over a course of generations. Those are the cycles that have to stop. Those are the cycles that we're committed long term to ceasing as soon as possible,” Carter said.