Police Search For Gunman Who Shot Good Samaritan
MINNEAPOIS (WCCO) -- St. Paul police are looking for those responsible for shooting a Good Samaritan who was trying to break up an apparent street robbery.
As police tape went up, all traffic stopped at the light rail transit ramp at University and Western Avenues.
At around 10 p.m. Wednesday night, a car with four passengers inside stopped near the intersection after witnessing what looked like a crime in progress.
The driver honked the horn hoping it would frighten the attackers. Instead, the four juveniles ignored the vehicle and continued their assault of another young man who was standing on the Green Line platform.
That's when two men got out of the vehicle and began walking towards the group to go to the victim's aid.
Instead, a 30-year old man became the next victim after one of the young males pointed a handgun and shot him in the chest.
Instead of calling for help, or even an ambulance, the bleeding man ran off the platform and back to the car. His girlfriend drove him to Regions Hospital, about eight blocks away.
All trains along the route were interrupted as police combed the scene. Authorities are not yet releasing the man's identity but say his daughter was inside the vehicle.
On Thursday afternoon, St. Paul police investigators were back at the scene asking questions and looking for clues, hoping to answer why an attempted robbery quickly turned violent.
The St. Paul Police Department's western district posted a warning on its Facebook page on August 28 informing pedestrians to be aware of groups of 4 to 10 people, traveling on foot or on bicycle who have been robbing individuals of cellphones, wallets and other valuables. They have been especially active in the area of Snelling and Thomas, west of where this latest incident happened.
A Metro Transit spokesperson said the Green Line was shut down for about three hours while police processed the crime scene. Busses were dispatched to transport light rail riders.