Hospital Confirms Shooting Victim Critical [PHOTOS,VIDEO, AUDIO]
SARTELL -- Police are investigating a shooting outside a strip mall off Pine Cone Road in Sartell that happened just before noon.
Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes says a news release will be issued later this afternoon and would not confirm or deny reports of a shooting outside the Sprint Store in Sartell.
But CentraCare Health spokeswoman Deb Paul tells WJON News,
"At approximately noon today, a car pulled into the Prairie West parking lot at CentraCare Health Plaza. The driver ran into the Health Plaza seeking assistance for his adult passenger, who was a gunshot victim. The victim was transported to St. Cloud Hospital’s Emergency Trauma Center by ambulance. The shooting did not occur on Plaza property."
Paul says the victim is listed in critical condition.
The Sartell-St. Stephen school district has sent out an alert to parents today that says, "as a precautionary measure, we will be securing our facilities and keeping students inside the building during school hours".
WJON reporter Ashli Gerdes -- reporting from the Sartell Sprint store in the Pinecone Marketplace -- said for a time, police had cordoned-off an area at a strip mall area off Pinecone Road from Great Clips to the Swim School. That area has since been re-opened.
This story is still developing so check back soon for details as they unfold this afternoon.