St. Paul police said Sunday that the fatal shooting overnight of a man on the city's East Side did not appear to be random.

Acquaintances brought Marcelis Lamar Stafford, 21, of St. Paul, to Regions Hospital about 10:45 p.m. Saturday with a gunshot wound, according to police spokesman Howie Padilla. Stafford died a short time later.

Investigators said he was shot about 10 p.m. in the 300 block of Ruth Street. Police declined to release any further information about the shooting. No one had been arrested as of Sunday evening.

The shooting took place in a parking lot behind an apartment complex on Ruth Street off Interstate 94, leaving residents of the Hillsberry 94 Apartments unnerved Sunday afternoon.

Ka Vang Lee, 57, said she was in her apartment when she heard gunshots about 10 p.m. There were three shots in rapid succession, a pause, then two more shots, Lee said.

A police officer who came to her apartment later to ask her questions told her that a young man had been shot, Lee said.

Investigators are asking anyone who might have information to call the homicide unit at 651-266-5650.

Staff writers Heron Marquez Estrada and Chris Havens contributed to this report. jpowell@startribune.com • 651-925-5038