Gunfire at a downtown St. Paul parking ramp turned a routine Monday evening into a crime scene, leaving two young men with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and three people in handcuffs near the RiverCentre complex.
Multiple shots were reported at the RiverCentre parking ramp in the early evening, and officers quickly locked down several spots around the block. Streets near West Fifth Street and Kellogg Boulevard stayed closed for hours while investigators worked. Earlier that afternoon, a Metro State University commencement ceremony at the RiverCentre had wrapped up, sending graduates and families into the area before the shooting.
Police Response and Victims
St. Paul officers were called to the RiverCentre parking ramp around 5:30 p.m. after a flurry of 911 calls reporting shots fired, according to KSTP. When they arrived, officers found two young adult men suffering from gunshot wounds.
Police described the injuries as non-life-threatening and said the department is continuing to investigate what led up to the shooting, how many shots were fired, and who pulled the trigger.
Three Scenes Secured, Suspects in Custody
As officers moved in, they reported hearing active gunfire in several areas around the complex and ultimately secured three scenes, outside the Grand Casino Arena, at the RiverCentre parking ramp, and near the Ordway, as reported by FOX 9. The result was a tight police perimeter across the RiverCentre block while investigators collected evidence and interviewed witnesses.
Authorities said three possible suspects were arrested nearby a short time later, according to FOX 9. Officials have not released their names or announced any formal charges.
Graduation Crowd and Mayor Response
The RiverCentre had hosted a Metro State University commencement that ended at about 5 p.m., which meant plenty of graduates, families and staff had been in the neighborhood shortly before the shots rang out, according to the RiverCentre event calendar and parking information on the RiverCentre site.
In a Facebook post quoted by KSTP, Mayor Kaohly Her said her “heart goes out to the two people” injured downtown and urged residents to back the city’s Nonfatal Shooting Unit and prevention partnerships as officials respond to incidents like this one.
Why It Matters: Nonfatal Shooting Response
City leaders have pointed to a dedicated nonfatal shooting unit and community outreach as key tools to reduce violence and speed up investigations, a strategy that has been credited with improving clearance rates in St. Paul, according to the Star Tribune. The mayor’s call to expand funding tracks with that approach, as officials say they will continue working with the Office of Neighborhood Safety to try to head off future incidents downtown.
Investigation Remains Active
St. Paul police say this remains an active case. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage, witness statements and other evidence, and the department has asked anyone with video or information to contact investigators, per FOX 9.
So far, officials have not announced charges, released suspect identities or given a motive. They are urging patience from the public as they work to piece together a clear timeline of what happened around the RiverCentre on Monday evening.
