St. Paul man who shot teen outside store acted in self-defense, prosecutor says
By Tad Vezner
tvezner@pioneerpress.com
POSTED: 06/05/2014 12:01:00 AM CDT | UPDATED: ABOUT 17 HOURS AGO

The Ramsey County attorney's office won't press charges against a St. Paul man who shot and wounded another man in a grocery store parking lot last month, saying the shooting was in self-defense.

On the evening of May 21, Bee Thao, 21, shot Keyonte Thompson, 19, also of St. Paul, outside Rainbow Foods at 892 Arcade St. Thompson, shot in the torso, survived after being taken to Regions Hospital.

Thao, who remained at the scene, was detained but not arrested.

A witness sitting in a car in the parking lot told police she saw Bee Thao come out of the store with a woman and child, with Thompson following them. The witness said she saw Thompson punch Thao in the face, before Thao pushed back with one hand, pulled out a handgun and shot him.