A simmering online beef spilled into the real world on St. Paul’s East Side in mid-March, ending with a 54-year-old bystander shot in the chest near a Holiday gas station and three people now facing charges. Prosecutors say they moved ahead with the case this week after reviewing surveillance footage and witness statements tied to an arranged meet-up that followed the social media dispute.
Arrests and charges
According to a Ramsey County criminal complaint, 20-year-olds Sonram Poowang and Soe Moe Aung are each charged with aiding and abetting first-degree assault in connection with the bystander’s shooting. The complaint also describes a 14-year-old who allegedly admitted to police, “I set him up,” as reported by the Pioneer Press.
Meet-up spot and neighborhood context
The complaint says the people involved agreed to meet at Conway Community Center. The center, at 2090 Conway St., is a city park and recreation facility run in partnership with the Sanneh Foundation and is a hub for youth programs on St. Paul’s East Side, according to the City of Saint Paul.
How investigators say it unfolded
Investigators say the gunfire broke out around 8:50 p.m. on March 13 near the Holiday Station at Old Hudson Road and White Bear Avenue, just off I-94. Surveillance video cited in the complaint shows a dark SUV and a sedan stopped in the intersection, with muzzle flashes visible from the sedan.
An occupant of the SUV later found a bullet hole in the driver-side front quarter panel. Two teens who were in that vehicle told investigators they did not shoot back, according to the complaint. The 54-year-old bystander was still hospitalized as of last week, authorities said, as reported by the Pioneer Press.
Online fights and real-world harm
Police say the chain of events started with an online argument that escalated into an in-person confrontation, a now-familiar pattern for conflicts among teens and young adults. Researchers and community groups have documented how social media grudges can quickly move offline and turn violent.
Reporting from KFF Health News and guidance from the U.S. Surgeon General describe how online posts and viral content can inflame feuds and raise the risk of real-world harm…