A Minnesota artist was shot and killed while kneeling in the street before her own artwork in what police have described as a "random killing".
66-year-old Carrie Shobe Kwok was a resident of St. Paul's Lowertown neighborhood, and a member of the Lowertown Lofts Artists Cooperative. Kwok had been kneeling in the street to work on art when she was shot by the gunman who police suspected to be Seantrell Murdock, 29. According to KSTP, he was identified by family.
Police responded to reports of a shooting at 200 block of E Kellogg Blvd. around 5:15pm Wednesday night. Kwok, who had been shot, was pronounced dead at the scene.
"The victim (Shobe Kwok) was on her knees, working on an art project in the street, about as vulnerable as a person can be for someone who is intending to do them harm," said St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry during a press briefing. "One of the most cold-blooded things I've ever seen in my life. It is awful... atypical in a way that in almost 30 years (in policing) I have ever seen."
RIP Carrie Shobe Kwok (66)
— Asian Dawn (@AsianDawn4) September 29, 2024
Seantrell Murdock gunned her down execution-style while she was painting a mural in St. Paul, MN. pic.twitter.com/Io7uTCAaaA
Following this incident, police traced suspected gunman Murdock to an address in Belle Plaine. However, Murdock emerged from inside the building armed with a handgun. Officers then opened fire, killing Murdock.
Flowers have been placed on the mural Kwok ws working on at the time of her death as she is mourned by loved ones.
"Carrie Shobe Kwok, 66, of St. Paul was kneeling in the street and working on an art project when police say a man shot her."https://t.co/0gg6V3a3RG
— Catherine Harrop (@Catherine_in_Va) September 29, 2024
"She helped tons of people. She always wanted to take care of others," recalls Kwok's sister Julie Shobe, who described the artist as a gentle soul. "I thought I would die before her. Terribly sad."
Lowertown Loft Artists Cooperative, of which Kwok was a member, posted about the shooting to their social media on Wednesday.
"Our community is in shock and grief as we grapple with the unimaginable." They wrote.
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