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2 minors arrested after police, SWAT respond to gunfire at St. Paul apartment building

A standoff forces residents out of their homes in St. Paul
A standoff forces residents out of their homes in St. Paul 01:41

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Two minors are in custody after police and a SWAT team responded to a St. Paul apartment building Tuesday morning due to several reports of gunfire.

Residents of the building on Lexington Parkway North and Ashland Avenue were evacuated and nearby streets blocked off "as a safety precaution," the St. Paul Police Department said. The incident, which started around 5:30 a.m., was resolved by 8:30 a.m. and no one was injured, police say.

"I can't remember the last time that I've seen police cars in front of a house," neighbor John Peterson said.

Peterson tells WCCO he's lived in the Lexington Hamline neighborhood for 20-plus years – he was surprised to see the busy police scene.

"I never fear for my life, fear for my property," he said. "Never scared to get out and walk."

St. Paul Sgt. Toy Vixayvong says situations like this are what his team trains for.  

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WCCO

"We're used to dealing with a situation like this — and trying to bring the situation to a peaceful manner," Vixayvong said.

He's grateful it ended peacefully.

"When there's gunplay, when there's shots fired, we don't know what's happening inside, if there's victims, if officers will be shot at, we don't know any of that," he said.

While there are still a lot of questions surrounding what led to gunfire — and the two minors involved — Vixayvong says it has a happy ending.

"It could end tragically, and in this case, it didn't," he said. "And we want to hold onto that."

SWAT team members assisted with evacuating residents, police said. 

Police said both arrested minors will be charged.

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