One in jail, one at large after Cambodian festival shootings

April 20, 2009
JOY POWELL
Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota, USA)

One man remained jailed Monday and another was sought by Dakota County sheriff's deputies after shots were fired at a Cambodian festival attended by about 2,000 people in Hampton on Saturday, the Sheriff's Office said. Nobody was hit.

The incident happened shortly after 3:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Watt Munisotaram Temple, just off Hwy. 50, in the 2900 block of E. 220th Street. Several cars were struck, said Dave Bellows, chief deputy.

He said a 29-year-old man was arrested shortly after the incident, and deputies continued looking Monday for at least one other man. Authorities suspect that gang activity might be involved, Bellows said. The arrested man's name was not released Monday because of an ongoing investigation, and he had not been charged Monday afternoon.

Handguns used in the shooting were not recovered, Bellows said.

While most of the festival-goers were at the temple nearby, rather than in the parking lot, it was "very fortunate that no one was struck," Bellows said.

"We estimate that eight to 10 shots were fired between these two," he said.

The festival celebrated the Cambodian New Year. Such gatherings at the large temple, which opened in 2005, have been peaceful in the past, he said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Dakota County Sheriff's Office at 651-438-4720 or the TIPS line at 651-438-8477.

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