St. Paul gunshot victim found alive in Cottage Grove

Posted 9/28/22

On September 26, 2022, at approximately 3:45 p.m., the Cottage Grove Police Department and Washington County SWAT team served a search warrant on behalf of the St. Paul Police Department at the …

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St. Paul gunshot victim found alive in Cottage Grove

Posted

On September 26, 2022, at approximately 3:45 p.m., the Cottage Grove Police Department and Washington County SWAT team served a search warrant on behalf of the St. Paul Police Department at the Wakota Inn & Suites located at 7125 80th St. Officers located Hsa Say, who had been shot in St. Paul. The woman was treated by paramedics and transported to the hospital for a gunshot wound to her leg. Two additional adult males were detained and turned over to St. Paul police for their ongoing investigation.

St. Paul Police contacted Cottage Grove Police at approximately 1:45 p.m. to advise that their investigation into a missing endangered person had led them to Cottage Grove’s Wakota Inn. The information shared led Cottage Grove Police to contact the Washington County SWAT team for assistance with a possible hostage rescue. During the extended information gathering, officers evacuated all the potentially affected nearby businesses, including the hotel, and set up an interior and exterior perimeter.

St. Paul Police simultaneously got a warrant signed for the room where the subjects and victim were located. At 3:29 p.m., St. Paul Police received confirmation the warrant was signed. At 3:45 p.m., SWAT crisis negotiators attempted to contact the subject by phone; the call was answered and immediately hung up. At 3:46 p.m., SWAT officers outside the room observed the door open and made entry into the room, taking the person who opened the door into custody. They found the female with the gunshot wound on the bed alongside the second adult male. The victim was removed to a secure location and treated for her wound and then brought to a waiting ambulance and transported to the hospital. The two remaining adult males were detained at the request of St. Paul Police and released to their custody.

This was a coordinated effort to safely find the victim. All those involved showed the utmost professionalism to bring this event to a successful resolution. The Cottage Grove Police Department would like to thank and recognize all supporting departments that make up the joint Washington County SWAT Team, Cottage Grove Fire and EMS, Washington County Sheriff’s Office and St. Paul Police Department.