St. Paul man accused of shooting 8-year-old boy in head with paintball gun

Article by: ABBY SIMONS , Star Tribune
Updated: August 10, 2010 - 9:43 PM

Police say the suspect scuffled with officers, who zapped him with a stun gun.

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A 20-year-old St. Paul man was arrested on suspicion of shooting his 8-year-old neighbor in the head with a paintball gun, then scuffling with officers, who twice zapped him with a stun gun.

St. Paul police were called at 8:45 p.m. Monday to a house on the 900 block of Sherburne Avenue on a report that an adult had just shot the boy on the side of the head, said police spokesman Andy Skoogman.

The boy's mother told officers that the shooter was across the street, sitting in a yard with eight to 10 others. When officers asked the man why he did it, he allegedly responded that the boy took $5 from him, Skoogman said.

Police then asked the man to speak with them away from the group, and when an officer led him away by the arm, he broke free and allegedly tried to punch the officer, who ducked while a second officer tried to pull the suspect away, Skoogman said. One of the suspects' female friends then either jumped on an officer's back or pulled on his shoulders from behind, Skoogman said.

Shortly thereafter, the suspect appeared "ready to fight again," and an officer used a stun gun on him, Skoogman said. The suspect fell to the ground and got up, and the officer stunned him again, Skoogman said. The 22-year-old woman also continued to fight, and an officer used pepper spray on her, Skoogman said.

The man was booked into the Ramsey County jail pending possible charges of aggravated assault and obstructing the legal process. The woman was booked on suspicion of obstructing the legal process and disorderly conduct.

The boy, who was not seriously injured, has a welt on the left side of his head, Skoogman said.

Abby Simons • 612-673-4921