Shooting Near St. Paul Central High School Now Murder

Hat tip to Andrew R. for reminding me not to forget our friends across the river in St. Paul, a city which is no stranger to violence.

Illicit gunfire is always bad, but is particularly egregious when it occurs in areas populated with children, such as the shooting-turned-murder near St. Paul Central High School. Here is a media advisory from the St. Paul Police:

MEDIA ADVISORY

Saint Paul Police Department
367 Grove Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Officer Pete Crum
Public Information Coordinator
651-266-5735 - Office
651-755-9990 - Cellular

April 27, 2006

Man Shot in Summit-University Neighborhood Dies from Injuries

On April 26, 2006 at 2:33 PM Saint Paul Police received multiple calls of shots fired near Marshall Avenue and Griggs Street, followed by a call reporting that someone had been shot. Police located the victim inside a van parked on the 900 block of Marshall. A witness pointed out a 17-year-old male who got out of the van after it was parked. Police detained the juvenile and Saint Paul Fire Medics transported the victim, 21-year-old Deon Andrew Duffy of Saint Paul, to Regions Hospital where he died at 10:48 PM.

Police located the scene of the shooting on Marshall near Griggs. Marshall Avenue was closed for several hours at both Griggs and Milton while the Saint Paul Police Crime Lab processed the scene where the shooting occurred and the scene where the victim was found.

Detectives have arrested two people in connection to the case. The 17-year-old male who was detained on the 900 block of Marshall was arrested for crime to benefit a gang and 20-year-old Tiarra Lynn English of Saint Paul was arrested for aiding an offender. Police continue to search for others involved with this crime, including the gunman. The shooting was not random and appears related to another case that is also under investigation. In addition to homicide detectives, the Minnesota Gang Strike Force and Saint Paul Gang Unit are assisting with the investigation.

The God Squad also came to the scene of this shooting and is actively working with the community to reduce youth violence. The God Squad serves as an example of the community and civil society working in cooperation with the police and other city and county programs.