Man arrested after shooting driver of stolen vehicle in St. Paul

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - The driver of a stolen vehicle was shot by a resident in St. Paul, Minnesota while fleeing from the scene of a crash Tuesday morning, according to police. 

Police say the resident, a 36-year-old man, has now been arrested and booked into Rasmey County Jail on suspicion of aggravated assault. 

St. Paul Police Department spokesperson Mike Ernster said the incident started when officers attempted to stop a vehicle that was driving recklessly. The vehicle, which they discovered was stolen, fled from the officers, speeding down side streets and alleyways. The officers eventually lost sight of the vehicle. 

A short time later, officers learned of a crash involving the stolen vehicle at the intersection of Payne Avenue and Jenks Avenue East. Several people had reportedly fled from the stolen vehicle into the surrounding neighborhood. 

As officers began to search for the occupants of the vehicle, they heard gunshots. They located the driver of the stolen vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds lying in the yard of a house on the 600 block of Cook Avenue. A man armed with a handgun, who identified himself as the homeowner, was found with him. 

The man cooperated with police and surrendered the gun, Ernster said. The victim was taken to Regions Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police are investigating what led to the shooting. A sign in the window of the home where the shooting occurred reads, "No trespassing. Violators will be shot. Survivors will be shot again!" 

The victim, the driver of the stolen vehicle, was wanted in St. Paul for a different auto theft. 

No one was injured in the crash. The other occupants of the stolen vehicle have not been located.