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Gunfire erupted at Thompson Park in West St. Paul shortly before 9 p.m. on Wednesday night and a 20-year-old male was killed. According to West St. Paul Police, a group of about 20 people had gathered at the park. Multiple shots were exchanged and the victim was injured. Paramedics transported the wounded man to Regions Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Most of the group gathered in the park fled the scene, though police arrested one person Wednesday night for firearms possession.
Thursday morning a SWAT team raided a hotel room in Inver Grove Heights in connection with Wednesday night’s shooting. Two more people were arrested for firearms possession.
At this point police are still looking for the suspected shooter from Wednesday night, though police described the incident as a targeted shooting and said there’s no immediate danger to the public.
West St. Paul Police did ask anyone with information about Wednesday evening’s shooting to come forward.
Thompson Park is currently under construction and several of the amenities are closed. The group was gathered at the picnic shelter, which has remained open during the construction.
June 10, 2021, 4:35 p.m. Update:
West St. Paul Police posted an update with more details. Two people have been booked into jail, one on gun possession charges and the other as an accomplice. The police note that the people who remained on the scene at the shooting are not cooperating. Many who fled have information about the shooting and the police are looking for people to come forward with more details.
July 17, 2021 Update: Mother Speaks Out
The 20-year-old killed last month in Thompson Park was Jayvon Malone. His mother, Nicole Malone, is asking for anyone with knowledge of the shooting to come forward.
“Justice for us would be to find those who are involved … in the murder of Jayvon,” Malone told the Pioneer Press. “This was a setup, in my eyes. It wasn’t random.”
March 24, 2023 Update: Shooter Arrested
West St. Paul Police announced the arrest of 24-year-old Brenden Jamel Reynolds last night in connection with the 2021 shooting death of Jayvon Andrew Malone in Thompson Park.
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