St. Paul nonfatal shootings plunge after new unit

St. Paul and Ramsey County officials say a specialized nonfatal shooting unit launched in 2024 has helped drive a steep drop in gun violence, and they're pressing state lawmakers to bankroll similar teams statewide. New figures show St. Paul's clearance rate for nonfatal shootings jumped from 38% in 2023 to 71% in 2024, while the number of people shot and surviving fell from 193 in 2022 to 73 in 2025—a roughly 62% decline that leaders directly link to the unit. The team treats nonfatal shootings like homicides, pouring detectives and resources into each case to quickly identify and arrest suspects, which Sheriff Bob Fletcher argues deters future violence. The Minnesota House has put $1 million into its budget as seed money to support these units, but the Senate has offered nothing so far, so local leaders are using this session to educate legislators and aim for a larger, ongoing appropriation next year. Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and St. Paul Assistant Chief Paul Ford both stress that without state money approved in 2023, the current unit wouldn't exist—and they warn that without continued funding, the gains in solved cases and reduced shootings could be at risk.