14-year-old boy dies after shooting in Woodbury near graduation party

A 14-year-old boy died after a shooting in Woodbury Saturday night near a graduation party.

According to the Woodbury Police Department, officers were called to the 6100 block of Edgewood Avenue for a report of people screaming, including one stating, "help me." Police said Washington County Dispatchers could hear several people screaming on the 911 call. Multiple calls came through that included more screaming and some discernable information that someone had been shot.

Officers began arriving at 10:46 p.m. and found 30 to 40 people in the area, with what appeared to be a graduation party at a nearby residence. Police said witnesses stated that a white SUV was involved and fled the area, and a dark SUV or truck is also believed to be involved.

Woodbury police stated that they are aware of one victim, and the victim is being treated at Regions Hospital. Police later identified the victim as a 14-year-old boy who died from the shooting.

"Last night’s shooting on Edgewood Av resulted in the tragic loss of a 14-year-old boy, and our hearts go out to his family," the Woodbury Police Department said in a statement.

The family identified the victim to KSTP as Demaris Hobbs-Ekdahl of Maplewood. Hobbs-Ekdahl was a sophomore at Tartan High School, said the family.

Police said several houses were struck by gunfire, and all residents are believed to be unharmed. They also said they are aware of other scenes in neighboring cities Maplewood and Oakdale, in which some vehicles are believed to be involved. Those scenes are also under investigation.

Hobbs-Ekdahl’s aunt Michelle Ekdahl created a GoFundMe to help pay for burial services and showing.

"A beautiful soul was taken yesterday my nephew, he was 14 years old full of life. Loved football and loved doing mechanical work and watching his uncle race cars. He didn’t deserve to be taken like this. I am asking for everyone to pray for our family and please help my sister out in the most difficult time of her life, buring on her son’s. Please help with burial service, showing and my sister needs to take time of work to process this tragedy," stated Ekdahl on GoFundMe.

This incident remains under active investigation. More information is expected to be released at a later time.