In the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, August 16, 2025, the quiet streets of Saint Paul’s South Frogtown neighborhood were shattered by the sound of gunfire. Just before 4:15 a.m., Saint Paul police raced to the 300 block of Edmund Avenue, responding to urgent reports of a shooting. What they found was a scene of heartbreak: a man, known to the community as Da Real Von, lay motionless in the street, his life slipping away from gunshot wounds to his chest and neck.
Officers sprang into action, their hands pressing against his wounds in a desperate attempt to save him. CPR echoed through the early morning air as Saint Paul Fire medics arrived, rushing Da Real Von to Regions Hospital. Despite their efforts, the hospital walls bore witness to the grim reality—Da Real Von was pronounced dead, leaving a void in the hearts of those who knew him.
As the sun began to rise, investigators pieced together the fleeting details of a suspect who vanished into the night. Described as a Black male in his early 20s, roughly six feet tall with dreads and a heavier build, he was last seen wearing a black top. Authorities learned he had arrived at the scene in a rideshare vehicle, only to slip away on foot through the back of a nearby residence, evading capture. Police set up a perimeter, unleashed canine units, and deployed a drone to scour the area, but the suspect remained at large, a shadow in the morning light.
Detectives worked tirelessly at the scene, interviewing witnesses whose voices carried the weight of shock and grief. Crime scene investigators meticulously documented evidence, each fragment a potential key to unlocking the truth. Yet, the motive behind this brutal act remains cloaked in mystery, a puzzle the Saint Paul Police Department is determined to solve. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office now holds the solemn task of conducting an autopsy to confirm the official cause of Da Real Von’s death, a step toward closure for a grieving community.
The loss of Da Real Von has sent ripples through South Frogtown, a neighborhood known for its resilience and tight-knit spirit. As candles flicker at makeshift memorials and voices whisper in mourning, the community clings to hope that justice will prevail. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward, offering a lifeline to the investigation through the Saint Paul Police Department’s contact number: 651-266-5650.
In the wake of this tragedy, Saint Paul stands united, honoring the memory of Da Real Von while pressing for answers. The streets of Frogtown, though scarred, pulse with a shared resolve to seek clarity and healing in the face of senseless violence.
