St. Paul Police: Man Killed In Frogtown Shooting; 18th Homicide Of '17
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A man is dead after a shooting in St. Paul early Saturday morning -- the city's 18th homicide of the year.
Police say it happened at about 5 a.m. near Lafond Avenue and Dale Street North in the West Frogtown neighborhood.
Officers were called to the area on a report of a fight, but were informed right before arriving that gunshots were fired.
The victim was pronounced dead at Regions Hospital.
Investigators are interviewing witnesses to figure out what led to the fatal shooting. No arrests have been made.
Police say they are trying to make a "leap forward" in the fight against gun violence, adding more officers to gang and gun units.
"What we really need to really make this big leap forward in this fight against gun violence is we need the public to step up and call us when they know of somebody that's carrying a gun or is involved in one of these crimes," Sgt. Mike Ernster said.
Reports of shots fired in the city increased by 75 percent this past spring, and they are up overall by 37 percent for 2017 -- with more than 1,100 reports.
Just this year, police say there have been more than 130 residents who have been physically impacted by gun violence.