12-year-old boy shot on east side of St. Paul

A 12-year-old boy is in the hospital after he was shot in the chest Friday night on St. Paul’s east side.

According to Sgt. Natalie Davis, spokeswoman for the St. Paul Police Department, officers responded to a report of shots fired around 7:45 p.m. near White Bear Avenue North and Idaho Avenue East.

Maplewood police officers got there first and administered first aid to a 12-year-old boy who had been shot in the chest. Medics took the boy to Regions Hospital. He is expected to survive, Davis said.

A witness told police they saw a large group of juveniles arguing before hearing multiple gunshots and then seeing the victim lying on the ground, Davis said. Juveniles at the scene could not give police a detailed description of the shooter.

As of Saturday morning, no arrests have been made.