A 16-year-old was recovering Sunday after being shot in the leg when gunfire erupted at a birthday party the previous night in St. Paul, police said.
St. Paul police spokesman Steve Linders said that several people fired shots into a crowded unofficial event center at 570 Snelling Av. N. around 9:30 p.m.
A manager for the business Zany's listed with that address said in a phone interview Sunday morning that "kids were gathering to get on a party bus" while waiting at the event space and having refreshments. The manager, who said his name was James and declined to provide his last name, said some of the teenagers were trying to bring guns to the party.
Linders said private security was working at the party and turning away those who were trying to bring guns inside. When one armed teen was pushed out of the entrance, Linders said, he fired into the event center, striking the 16-year-old.
Linders said a second person outside also started shooting into facility, where police recovered a dozen spent shell casings.
"It's amazing more people weren't struck by gunfire," Linders said.
About 100 people were outside the event center when police arrived. Officers said some began fighting and some interfered as police tried to find the victim inside.
The wounded teen was taken to Regions Hospital and was expected to survive.
