A passenger on a Metro Transit light rail train in St. Paul was shot and robbed on the evening of February 3, sparking renewed safety concerns among riders. The incident took place around 7:30 p.m. near the East 12th Street and Robert Street area, FOX 9 reported. The victim, a 27-year-old man, was transported to Regions Hospital with a gunshot wound to his stomach but is expected to recover.
Following the crime, there was an extensive search involving canine units and a state patrol helicopter, but the suspect was not apprehended. Metro Transit Police Chief Ernest Morales III described the shooting as unprecedented on the train and expressed confidence in quickly solving the case, noting that the incident was captured on video. "I’m confident that this case will be solved in a timely manner," Morales told FOX 9.
Despite efforts to enhance security, including a recent uptick in law enforcement presence and the report of a 33% drop in crime over the past year, this violent event has rattled the community. A regular rider, Jackson Hampton, recounted his own experiences with disorder on the trains and appealed for improvements. "I tell my sister to not ride it," Hampton confided in an interview with FOX 9, acknowledging his discomfort with how things currently stand.
Another concerned rider who went by the name Mary chose to remain faceless on camera but wished to convey her unease, especially after witnessing the aftermath of the shooting. "It sounded like he was seriously injured. That in itself was scary," she related to CBS Minnesota. The incident emphasizes the necessity to further increase police visibility, a sentiment echoed by fellow rider Richard Brown. "Just the presence of squads would help big time," Brown said during a CBS Minnesota interview.
As the investigation continues with the St. Paul Police Department at the helm, questions about the efficiency of security measures on the metro rail system linger. Meanwhile, Metro Transit is grappling with the challenge of recruiting new officers to meet their increased allocation for patrols on its transit system. The man injured in the incident remains in stable condition, and authorities continue their search for the suspect involved in the shooting.
