Door Handle Dispute Sparks Saint Paul Shooting
Prosecutors have charged a 35-year-old Saint Paul man with attempted murder after he allegedly shot another man during a confrontation over a door handle early Monday morning.
According to the criminal complaint, officers responded after a reported shooting around 4:15 a.m. on the 1400 block of Seventh Street East in Saint Paul. Police found the victim with a gunshot wound through his chin and cheek.
The victim was initially unable to speak due to his injuries, but indicated to officers that Mohamud Hillow Bulle, 35, shot him after accusing him of touching his apartment door handle. Bulle allegedly placed the victim in a headlock before holding a handgun under the victim’s chin and firing a shot.
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While receiving treatment at the hospital, the victim provided more details about the shooting. He explained that the confrontation with Bulle began outside the apartment building near his van. According to the victim, Bulle accused him of touching the door handle of Bulle’s apartment. Bulle then brandished a .380-caliber handgun, waving it in the victim's face and stated, “I will blow your head off – don’t move.” The victim attempted to flee, but Bulle chased him down and shot him.
The victim said he knew Bulle and they had socialized in the past. He had Bulle's phone number saved in his phone and noted that he had received several missed calls from Bulle earlier that morning. Additionally, the victim shared a voicemail that Bulle had left for his girlfriend, where Bulle made threats related to a dispute over money owed.
The victim provided a detailed description of Bulle, describing him as a Somali male often seen wearing red or gray shorts, a yellow hooded jacket and a red baseball cap. He also told officers that Bulle lived in a third-floor apartment on Seventh Street East, identified by its west-facing windows and curtains.
Acting on this information, officers set up surveillance at the address. They observed a man matching the victim's description—wearing a red baseball cap, light-colored shorts and a yellow hooded jacket—entering the backdoor of the apartment building. Officers confirmed that Bulle resided in the apartment and later executed a search warrant.
Later on Monday, officers arrested Bulle inside his apartment. During the search, they discovered a Ruger .380-caliber handgun hidden in the kitchen trash can.
After his arrest, Bulle agreed to speak with investigators. He claimed that earlier that morning he had seen someone tampering with his apartment door handle and noticed two suspicious men in the building. He believed the men were connected to the victim's sister who lived nearby. Bulle acknowledged knowing the victim, stating that they had shared food and cigarettes in the past. Bulle admitted to confronting the victim and another man outside his apartment but denied shooting the victim. Instead, he claimed that he only punched the victim in the face before returning to his apartment. He also denied owning a gun and was unable to explain how the firearm ended up in his kitchen trash can.
Bulle remains jailed and will make his initial court appearance on Thursday. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
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