Suspected Home Intruder Shot, Killed in Saint Paul
The scene of a fatal shooting early Friday, April 1, 2022. Photo from SPPD.
A suspected home intruder was shot and killed early Friday morning in Saint Paul’s Hamline-Midway neighborhood, police have confirmed.
Around 1:40 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of Hewitt Ave. after a 911 caller reported a disturbance, with a man seen banging on windows and doors outside the residence, according to initial dispatch audio.
The 56-year-old male 911 caller updated dispatchers that the suspect had kicked in the door and the caller had then shot the suspect.
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The man later told officers a suspect in his 30s had kicked in his front door, entered the residence and threatened his daughter. Police said the suspect and daughter were in a relationship.
Officers found the suspect inside the small apartment building and with multiple gunshot wounds. He was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene a short time later, SPPD Sgt. Natalie Davis said in a media conference late Friday morning.
The man who shot the suspect was taken to police headquarters for an interview and subsequently released. Investigation is ongoing and the case will be submitted to the county attorney’s office for a charging decision, Davis said.
Police said the incident was being investigated as the 13th homicide in Saint Paul so far this year. It was the second fatal shooting in about five hours overnight Thursday into Friday and as of this time last year, there had been nine killings in the city.
“These shootings, they don’t just affect the people that are immediately involved. They reverberate throughout the city. Everybody feels the weight, our investigators included. Our hearts go out to the people that are grieving right now,” Davis said.
On Monday, April 4, the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man fatally shot as Kaleef L. Barnes, 33, of Saint Paul.
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