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Tim Nelson and Peter Cox
St. Paul, Minn.

Man dies in St. Paul police shooting

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St. Paul Police have identified the man killed in a shootout with police Sunday afternoon as 20-year-old Yee Vang of St. Paul.

The incident started a few miles north of downtown St. Paul at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday when Vang crashed a vehicle into a fence near the intersection of Jackson Street and Cook Avenue.

Police said the driver got out with a gun, fired and took a nearby vehicle and its two passengers by force in an effort to flee. According to police, Vang crashed a vehicle into fence near Jackson Street and Cook Avenue on St. Paul's North End and then then stole a bike from a bicyclist.

After having trouble riding the bike, Vang pulled a gun on two men in an SUV and jumped into the back seat of the vehicle, police said.

When officers pulled the vehicle over Vang jumped out and began firing, police spokesman Howie Padilla said. Police fired back, striking him.

"Taking a life is not something officers wake up in the morning looking to do," Padilla said. "When they're called upon to make these decisions, and in this case a decision that frankly was made for them in split seconds. It's not something they revel in."

Vang died as emergency personnel transported him to Regions Hospital.

Police also said a 14-year-old boy, an apparent bystander, was also wounded in the gunfire when officers stopped the second car. The teen was taken to Children's Hospital with what was described as a non-life threatening injury.

Officers Laura Finnegan and Dan Gleason, both three-year veterans, were directly involved in the shooting, police said. Officers Xiong Yang, a 24-year veteran and Shawn Filiowich, a member of the K9 unit who has been with the department 17 years, also were on the scene. All have been placed on standard administrative leave while the shooting is investigated.

Two of the officers suffered minor injuries in the gunfight. Police did not identify which officers were injured but they received medical treatment, but did not require hospitalization.

The shooting marked the second time in a week that St. Paul police have traded fire with a suspect.

On Wednesday, police were involved with a shootout with 39-year-old Brian Fitch, the suspect in the shooting death of Mendota Heights police officer Scott Patrick earlier in the day. Fitch was wounded and has been charged with Patrick's slaying.