Shoe helps snag suspects after St. Paul gas station clerk shot

A convenience store robber who allegedly shot and wounded a clerk Sunday evening left behind a shoe that helped police track him down.

Police say they got a call about 6 p.m. from a customer at the Clark SuperDay store on West 7th Street near Sibley Plaza. The customer reported that a clerk was on the floor, suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The clerk was taken by ambulance to Regions Hospital, and underwent immediate surgery.

Witnesses provided a description of the getaway car, which police spotted a few blocks away. There were two people in the car, said police spokesperson Steve Linders: one was an adult driver, the other a juvenile male. The juvenile had only one shoe.

"The other shoe was found near the gas station," Linders said. "It's believed the juvenile male was the shooter. Both were taken into custody without incident."

The two suspects were arrested near another convenience store, at Homer Street and Shepard Road.

Linders said video of the robbery showed a male wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, face mask and white T-shirt enter the store while brandishing a handgun. Police also found a single 9 mm shell casing in the store where the clerk was shot.

"What we have here is a great example of the community and their police officers working together to catch two people that were involved in a terrible crime that could have left someone dead," Linders said. "Thankfully, the victim is expected to recover."

Charges against the two suspects are pending.