Teenage girl killed, three others wounded in east St. Paul shooting
ST. PAUL, Minn. — One teenage girl is dead and three others are hurt after a shooting on St. Paul's east side Wednesday night.
On Thursday afternoon, police identified the girl who died as 14-year-old Monica Holley. Her death marks the 27th homicide in the capital city this year.
Crime scene tape surrounded a section of Hazelwood Street near Maryland Avenue East, and evidence markers littered the street for hours overnight as investigators tried to piece together what happened.
Police said at around 7:45 p.m. multiple people called 911 after hearing gunshots. An officer who was on duty also heard them.
Police arrived to find three girls and one woman who had all been shot. The survivors are two teenage girls, ages 13 and 15, and a 19-year-old woman. They are expected to survive, police said.
"This type of crime, I don't have any words to describe it," St. Paul police Sgt. Mike Ernster said. "I cannot imagine what a family is going through right now as a father myself, it's unthinkable to have something like this happen."
Investigators are working to learn if and how the girls and the woman knew each other. As of now, police have not made any arrests. They are looking for surveillance video from the area.
The neighborhood reacts
Carolina and her family live on the first floor of the Parkview Apartments building. She says a stray bullet from the shooting went through her window and into the kitchen, where her son normally sits.
"I don't even want to think about it. You know, what if my son would've gotten hit?" Carolina said. "He eats, watches his videos on his phone, and so I honestly feel blessed that he's still alive."
Blessed, but like her neighbors, she's still angry. The entire neighborhood is on edge.
"I'm a mother that lost a son to gun violence, on the same block, and I'm still standing here today because I fought," said Marea Perry.
Residents, and members of the New Black Panther Nation, had a message for the shooter.
"Do the right thing and turn yourself in. Only a coward would sit up here and shoot young girls, and do this to young girls," said Nasiy Nasir X, of the New Black Panther Nation.
Considering that three other people were also shot, neighbors know this could have been even worse.
"I want my children to play outside in the parking lot. I want my children to go to the store," said neighbor Dashana Golds.
A vehicle in the parking lot has nearly a dozen bullet holes in it. Luckily, the driver wasn't inside when the shooting happened.
The group is asking police for more patrols and security in the area, and they're calling on others to join them in the fight against gun violence.
"When it's police brutality that takes place, we're out here by the thousands. But when it's crime that we commit against each other, where's everybody at?" said Nasir X.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the St. Paul Police Department.