Husband and wife shot, wounded in their St. Paul home

The couple's five children were inside, police said. It appeared to be a botched robbery attempt.

Last update: April 3, 2009 - 12:29 AM

A St. Paul couple were shot Thursday after a botched midday robbery at their home, while their five children were inside, police said.

The husband and wife, both in their 40s, were taken to a nearby hospital with noncritical injuries, said St. Paul police spokesman Peter Panos.

After the victims came out of surgery, they told investigators that they recognized the shooter who forced his way into their home in the 400 block of Blair Avenue shortly after noon.

It's unknown if there were other suspects with the shooter.

Someone at the Frogtown home answered a knock at the door and the gunman pushed his way inside, Panos said.

A woman at the house called 911 and reported that someone had broken into the home and two people had been shot.

Police do not believe the shooting was random.

The shooter fled on foot after firing at least two shots.

Police are continuing to look for the shooter and any other suspects but have not released any descriptions.

Investigators wouldn't say what the shooter may have been looking for at the house or how long he was inside.

The five children -- between the ages of 2 and 15 -- were not injured, authorities said.

LORA PABST

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