Rumors outweigh info in Little Canada killing

Man's death in apartment complex lot shocks residents.

By CHAO XIONG, Star Tribune

Last update: September 7, 2008 - 11:24 PM

Hours after a man was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Little Canada apartment complex Sunday morning, rumors swirled about the circumstances leading to his death as neighbors expressed shock at his violent end.

Authorities said someone shot the man about 4 a.m. and fled. The victim, whose name has not been released, died en route to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Residents of the Montreal Courts Apartments in the 400 block of LaBore Road, where he was killed, said they believed the man was killed because of a dispute over a car title or a relationship. Mason Thornberg said the victim lived next door with a woman and a few children.

"He was a nice guy," said Thornberg. "He's opened the door before when I've locked myself out."

Michael Gregersen, who lives in one of the complex's many buildings, said the victim was a young man named Timothy. Gregersen said he was at the scene soon after the shooting and overheard the victim's girlfriend speaking with authorities.

"He's a decent kid who loved to play basketball," Gregersen said.

Ramsey County Sheriff's Cmdr. Mike Salter would not discuss a motive in the case. There had been no arrests by Sunday evening.

It was Little Canada's first homicide of the year and its first in about five years, Salter said.

Residents of the complex, home to many children, were upset to learn that someone had been killed in their back yard.

"It's scary knowing that one of the bullets could've come into the building and hit one of my kids," said Stacy Hoffman, whose 6-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son have bedrooms facing the shooting scene.

Shanon Celmins said she heard six shots. Thornberg said he also heard gunshots, then heard someone get into a car and drive away.

"It sounded like cannons by our windows, it was so loud," Celmins said of the gunshots.

Celmins grew up in the complex. She and several other residents said violence -- mostly fistfights and domestic disputes -- are common.

"The ghetto of Little Canada," Celmins called the area. "Every day there are police out here."

Anyone with information about the shooting can call 651-266-7320.

Chao Xiong • 612-673-4391