An unlicensed driver fleeing a late-night traffic stop in St. Paul slammed into a vehicle parked outside a church and killed its lone occupant, officials said Monday.
The high-speed wreck occurred Sunday night at 1669 Arcade St. near Larpenteur Avenue, the State Patrol said, adding that the victim is a 36-year-old St. Paul man. That is the address for Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church.
The fleeing motorist, 28-year-old Lorenzo L. Washington of Minneapolis, was arrested after "a Taser was used to assist law enforcement," patrol Lt. Mike Lee said.
Washington was driving without a license, a state Department of Public Safety spokesman said Monday.
In October 2014, Washington was sentenced after being convicted of aiding and abetting attempted second-degree murder in connection with a shooting on a Minneapolis street. In August 2023, he was sentenced after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a gun in Woodbury.
Washington left prison on May 29, 2024, and has been on intensive supervised release since then. A warrant was active for his arrest in connection with violating terms of his parole.
Church spokesman Rob Lubke said people routinely park in the lot and take a bus downtown, "and we're fine with that."
Lubke said he doesn't know who parked this particular vehicle in the church lot, but "we're cautiously optimistic that it's not a member of one of our communities; not that it makes it any less tragic."
He said the last event at the church on Sunday ended at 9 p.m., and the doors were closed at 10 p.m.
According to the patrol and the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office:
Shortly after 11:15 p.m., a state trooper stopped a car on Interstate 94 near Marion Street on suspicion of speeding.
Washington stopped briefly but soon sped away. Troopers chased him and were joined by others in law enforcement.
Washington drove east on I-94 to northbound Interstate 35E and exited at Larpenteur.
The pursuit at ground level was discontinued while a patrol helicopter followed Washington until he crashed "at excessive speeds" into a car parked in the lot. The lone occupant in the parked vehicle did not survive the impact. The victim's identity has yet to be released.
Sheriff's deputies apprehended Washington, who was booked into jail about 4:50 a.m. Monday, with charges pending.