An exchange of gunfire at a St. Paul home is apparently what left a 2-year-old girl gravely wounded after she was shot in the head in mid-June, according to search warrant affidavits.
The suspects and motive that led to the injury of Chastity Yulia Vang; her father, Shawn Vang; and friend, Lee Lor, after a Father's Day celebration remain unclear.
"It's under investigation," said Sgt. Mike Ernster, a police spokesman. "The young girl is still in critical condition."
Two search warrant affidavits filed Tuesday show that investigators found an "AK-47 style rifle" in a car parked near the family's home in the 200 block of W. Maryland Avenue at Marion Street, two handguns inside the home and other evidence that someone fired a gun from near the home.
Police have said that a man approached the house about 12:09 a.m. June 19 through an alley and started shooting. Ernster said Friday that it's unclear who fired the first shots.
"There were bullet fragments and shell casings located all around the front door/threshold area," one affidavit said. "Handgun and casing evidence indicated that one or more persons from [the home] was firing a weapon, presumably back towards [sic] the suspect in this case."
Chastity and about 20 other people were in the backyard at the time. Her father was struck in the back by gunfire. He and Lor were treated for noncritical injuries.
The rifle was found under the rear-right tire area of a Subaru owned by Lor, 27, who was shot in the shoulder. The gun appeared to have just been placed there before police arrived, an affidavit said.
Several people from the family's home were getting into the vehicle when officers arrived. Several shell casings matching the rifle's caliber were also found near the vehicle, court documents said.
Police found one handgun on the kitchen floor and another around the front steps, the affidavit said. One of the homeowners told investigators that there were at least three guns in the home and that she had a permit to carry.
Police have said the shooting does not appear to be random. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for the family to assist with medical bills at https://www.gofundme.com/ulia-medical-bills
Chao Xiong • 612-270-4708
Twitter: @ChaoStrib
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