Charges: Denied entry to bar for carrying gun, man shot at someone outside
A St. Paul man denied entry to a Rice Street bar for being in possession of a gun later assaulted and fired shots at a man outside.
Taral Holmes, 35, has been charged with attempted murder and weapons offenses over the assault and shooting at 10:15 p.m. on Jan. 14.
Police had been called to Born's Bar at 934 Rice Street, where Holmes had been prevented from entering about 15 minutes earlier after a bouncer pat-searched him and felt a handgun.
Holmes was then outside the bar when he threw a punch, hitting a man in the head and neck.
He then pulled out a gun and shot multiple rounds in the victim's direction, before fleeing the area.
Fortunately, the victim was not struck by any bullets, and nobody else was injure.d
A St. Paul police officer who worked with the gangs unit identified the shooter as Holmes after looking at still pictures, and the bouncer at Born's Bar identified him from a line-up.
He was arrested on Jan. 22 in Burnsville, dropping a backpack when he saw officers approaching.
The backpack contained a 50-round capacity drum magazine, and police also found a 9mm handgun inside the car he was approaching when officers arrived.
The car's owner, Holmes' girlfriend, told police there shouldn't be a gun in the car.
Holmes has four felony convictions, including 2nd-degree assault and weapons offenses.
He is banned from possessing firearms as a result.
