St. Paul police investigating fatal shooting in Target parking lot: "Very brazen"
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Police are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the parking lot of a Target in St. Paul Thursday.
The shooting happened outside the East St. Paul store on the 1700 block of Suburban Avenue.
According to the St. Paul Police Department, officers were called to a reported shooting in the parking lot just before 10 a.m.
While police were heading to the scene, someone drove the victim, Jadonn Taylor, 23, of St. Paul, to a nearby fire station. Paramedics attempted to save him, but he was pronounced dead on the scene.
Police are canvassing local businesses for surveillance video, and asking any witnesses to contact the department.
"It's very brazen, the fact that somebody would engage in a shooting in the middle of a Target parking lot at 10 a.m. on a Thursday is beyond anybody's normal thought pattern," SPPD Sgt. Mike Ernster said. "The fact that people are choosing to use weapons possibly to solve differences, or whatever they're doing, is crazy."
MORE: Jadonn Taylor, 23, fatally shot at St. Paul Target parking lot
Jeff Helgeson says his wife heard what she later learned was the sound of gunfire. The Target is practically in their backyard -- a place they've lived for 30 years.
"I was sitting at the kitchen table and I heard some people talking and I looked out the window and there were six cops in the driveway and two police dogs," Helgeson said.
He told WCCO that law enforcement came looking for a potential suspect -- who they didn't find there.
SPPD Sgt. Ernster would not share much about the investigation.
"Our investigators are trying to determine the facts that led to the shooting and who is responsible," he said
Target released the following statement:
"Following a fatal shooting in the parking lot of our East Saint Paul store this morning, we can confirm that all other guests and team members are safe. Our team immediately called 911 and secured the store. The Saint Paul Police Department is on-site, and the store will be closed for the remainder of the day as they investigate. Target will provide law enforcement with any information needed, and we will refer additional questions to them at this time."
This was the ninth homicide in St. Paul this year, per police.
The Target will remain closed until 7 a.m. on Friday.