A noontime shooting on the East Side of St. Paul has left one man dead and St. Paul police asking for the public's help in finding out what led to his killing.

The victim, who police are working to identify, was shot shortly after noon Wednesday near the intersection of Arcade Street and Case Avenue. As officers arrived at the scene, dispatchers told them that a man with a gunshot wound to his chest was being treated at Fire Station 7 at 1038 Ross Av.

Firefighters and paramedics worked on the man at the station before transporting him to Regions Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Sgt. Paul Paulos, a police spokesman, said investigators are interviewing "a person of interest" and several witnesses, adding that police believe that the public is not at risk.

"This was not a random shooting," he said.

Paulos would not characterize the relationship between the victim and the person of interest, nor say whether they knew each other or whether they were known to police.

Police are asking anyone who saw the incident or events leading up to it to contact the homicide unit at 651-266-5650.

James Walsh • 651-925-5041