A man was fatally shot in the parking lot of a strip mall on St. Paul's North End early Friday, police said.

When officers arrived at the 100 block of Larpenteur Avenue E. just after 2 a.m., they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound, said police spokesman Steve Linders.

Medics arrived to render aid but pronounced the man dead at the scene, Linders said.

It was the 17th homicide in St. Paul this year.

No one has been arrested, but several people who were in the area at the time shots were fired were taken to police headquarters for questioning, Linders said.

Police are familiar with the strip mall near the intersection of Rice Street and Larpenteur Avenue E. Friday's incident marked the 150th time this year that police were called to the property, which includes the Lamplighter Lounge, an adult entertainment club, along with a laundromat and a nail salon. The calls have ranged from drunkenness to disorderly conduct to shots fired. "This is an area that we are well aware of and one that we work hard to keep safe," Linders said.

Anyone with information can call the homicide unit at 651-266-5650.