A 59-year-old man named Craig V. King has been arrested for allegedly shooting two people at a bus stop in downtown St. Paul back in January. The Metro Transit police confirmed his arrest on Wednesday and announced the charges against him on Friday. King now faces two counts of second-degree assault and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
How the Incident Unfolded
The shooting happened on January 23 near the intersection of Sixth and Cedar streets. It all started with an argument on a Metro Transit bus before things escalated when they got off.
Surveillance cameras near the bus stop captured the entire scene. A woman stepped off the bus at 8:14 p.m., followed closely by an older man—later identified as Craig King. The woman pushed him, causing him to fall backward to the ground. In response, King pulled out a gun, pointed it at her, and fired.
Several people were nearby at the time. After the shooting, King got up and walked to a different bus stop at Fifth and Minnesota streets, where he changed his clothes before getting on another bus at 8:33 p.m. Police later found the pants he was wearing near the bus stop, which helped them piece things together.
What Led to the Shooting?
According to a witness, the situation began when King started talking to a group of people at a bus stop before they all boarded the same bus. During the ride, he flirted with a woman and asked if he could join her and her friends at their hotel. She kept turning him down, but he still followed them when they got off the bus at Sixth and Cedar streets.
When the woman continued to reject his advances, King moved closer to her. That’s when her friend stepped in and pushed him away.
Instead of walking away, King pulled out a gun and shot the woman’s friend in the abdomen.
Another person, only identified in the complaint as DC, happened to be walking toward the bus shelter when he suddenly felt a burning sensation on his leg. At first, he didn’t realize what had happened, but later he discovered that he had been shot as well.
Police Response and Crime Trends
Following his arrest, Metro Transit Police Chief Joe Dotseth praised his officers for their dedication to keeping public transportation safe.
“Our officers are working hard to be visible and make sure people are held accountable for their actions. Safety for riders, staff, and the community is our top priority,” Dotseth said.
Interestingly, Metro Transit recently reported a 6% drop in overall crime on its buses and trains from 2023 to 2024. Serious crimes also fell by 15% during that time, showing that efforts to improve safety are making a difference.
As for King, he now faces serious charges and legal consequences for his actions that night in downtown St. Paul.
