1 dead, 1 injured in 2 St. Paul shootings believed to be connected
ST. PAUL, Minn. — St. Paul police say a woman is dead and another person is injured following two nearby shootings late Saturday night.
Officers responded to reports of shots fired in an apartment building on the 100 block of Sycamore Street East just after 9 p.m., according to the police department.
Upon arrival, officers found a woman inside an apartment suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers provided first aid until medics arrived. The woman, whom authorities identified as 35-year-old Damara Alexis Stowers, died on the scene. Her death marks the 23rd homicide in St. Paul this year.
At the same time, police say another sergeant responding to the shooting was waved down near the 90 block of Acker Street East concerning a carjacking where the victim had been shot.
Witnesses told police that the suspect fled in the victim's vehicle. The victim was transported to the hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
Police say that preliminary information suggests that the two crimes may be related but it is too early in the investigation to confirm.
No arrests have been made.
"Right now, I think we all believe, based on time based on distance, that these cases could be related, but our investigators can't work off of circumstances. They need facts," said Sgt. Mike Ernster with St. Paul police.
Neighbors said the woman who was killed, lived at the Sycamore Street apartment where the shooting occurred.
Joseph Gutierrez lives two properties away and was surprised to learn about the shootings.
"We never have anything going on here," said Gutierrez. "It's a nice, quiet neighborhood."
This marks the fourth homicide in St. Paul in nine days.
Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call 651-266-5650.