Monday morning on Maryland Avenue East turned violent when, according to police, a 32-year-old St. Paul man shot a 31-year-old truck driver near 240 Maryland Ave. E. The driver suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh and an apparent head injury and was taken to Regions Hospital for treatment. Officers arrested the suspect after he returned to the scene and ducked under the crime-scene tape to retrieve a phone, police said.
Police say suspect admitted to firing at close range
According to a criminal complaint reported by the Pioneer Press, the suspect told officers he shot the truck driver twice from roughly 10 feet away. Investigators recovered two 9mm shell casings at the scene, the complaint states.
Victim’s condition and suspect’s statement
The victim’s gunshot wound to the thigh was described as non-life-threatening, and he also had a separate head injury, according to the Pioneer Press. The complaint says the suspect told officers that the “devil inside him” made him shoot the other man.
Arrest and charges
Police say the suspect did not have a valid permit to carry the firearm. He was arrested at the scene, and prosecutors have charged him with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. For broader updates on investigations and public notices, residents can check the St. Paul Police website.
What the charge can mean
Second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon is a felony under Minnesota law and can carry significant penalties. Under Minn. Stat. §609.222, a conviction can result in prison time and fines when an assault is committed with a dangerous weapon.
What happens next
The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office will review the criminal complaint, set court dates, and move the case into arraignment and pretrial proceedings. Investigators have asked anyone with video or information about the shooting to contact police as the case advances through the justice system.
