In the Lowertown neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota, on May 21, 2014, a young Hmong man's life was tragically cut short. Twenty-one-year-old Bee Thao, a male, was on his knees, engrossed in an art project outside the Lowertown Lofts Artists Cooperative on Kellogg Boulevard when he was fatally shot. The act, captured on surveillance footage, was described by authorities as "cold-blooded," as the assailant walked up to the unsuspecting artist and fired.
The senseless killing prompted an
intensive investigation by the Saint Paul Police Department. Investigators used witness statements and the surveillance video to identify a suspect vehicle. This crucial piece of evidence led them to a residence in Belle Plaine, Minnesota. As officers were preparing to make contact at the home on the morning after the shooting, the suspect emerged from the residence armed with a handgun.
Confronted with an armed individual, officers discharged their weapons, and the suspect was killed at the scene. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was called to investigate the officer-involved shooting. The suspect was later identified as a 29-year-old male. Authorities found no known connection between him and Bee Thao, leading them to believe the attack was a random act of violence. It was later revealed that the suspect had a history of mental health issues, including bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, as well as a prior felony conviction. The tragic event left the local artistic community in mourning for a young man who was contributing to his community through his passion for art.
