2 killed in separate St. Paul shootings

The St. Paul Police Department is investigating two separate shootings on Friday that left two men dead. 

According to the police, at about 9:15 p.m. officers responded to reports of shots fired and a person down inside a gas station and convenience store on the 1100 block of Maryland Avenue East. 

When they arrived, officers found the victim lying on the floor. He was pronounced dead at the scene by St. Paul Fire medics. 

Thanks to evidence recovered at the scene and witness statements, officers were able to identify and locate a suspect and bring him to headquarters for questioning, said police. 

The second incident happened about 10 minutes later and about 2.5 miles away, near the intersection of Burns Avenue and U.S. Highway 61. 

According to preliminary information gathered by responding officers, two drivers were involved in a traffic crash on Burns Avenue, just west of the intersection of the highway. Both drivers got out of their vehicles and argued. At some point, one of the drivers shot the other, leaving him lying in the road as bystanders rendered aid. 

St. Paul Fire medics transported the victim to Regions Hospital, where he died a short time later. The suspect was located by officers near the scene and taken to police headquarters for questioning. 

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct autopsies on both victims to positively identify them and determine their exact causes of death. 

The department also sent homicide investigators and members of its Forensics Services Unit to both of the scenes to collect evidence, identify witnesses and work to determine what led to both shootings. 

More information will be released at a later time.