A crowded Saturday-night market at St. Paul’s historic Union Depot ended in chaos when a fight broke out and thousands of people were ordered out of the building, according to the St. Paul Police Department and local news reports.
Police said officers working on the 200 block of East Fourth Street called for additional squads just before 9:15 p.m. on Oct. 31 after a fight started at an event inside the depot, the National Correspondent Network reported. Officers told attendees to leave and cleared the building, according to the department.
A crowded market at St. Paul's Union Depot came to an abrupt end Saturday night when a fight broke out, thousands of people were evacuated and police responded to reports of possible gunfire. https://t.co/Df8dyGMRX8 pic.twitter.com/MKJlL733d3
— FOX 9 (@FOX9) November 1, 2026
The event was the Bundle Halal Fall Market, a private, ticketed gathering that organizers said brought together more than 100 local businesses, FOX 9 reported. The station said thousands of people were evacuated.
Reports of gunfire, but no shooting found
Police said the crowd began running and glass was broken, and that officers initially suspected shots had been fired, according to MN Crime. Investigators found no evidence of a shooting, and no injuries were reported, police said. “No shots were fired,” St. Paul police spokesperson Alyssa Arcand told the National Correspondent Network.
Several witnesses told KSTP 5 Eyewitness News that they believed they heard gunshots. MN Crime reported that at least two 911 callers described possible gunfire inside the venue, according to a department spokesperson.
The response drew officers from several agencies. St. Paul police, Ramsey County deputies and Minnesota State Troopers responded, and a State Patrol helicopter and a police drone were used to monitor the area, MN Crime reported, citing emergency radio dispatches. Metro Transit temporarily shut down Green Line service at the Union Depot stops in both directions before reopening them, KSTP reported.
“There seemed like there was just a massive response from police units, I mean every corner of the street was covered,” neighbor Mike Tollis told KSTP. Tollis said he wants more answers about what caused the fight.
Sheriff raises gang question; police have not confirmed
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher indicated during a livestream of his response Saturday night that the incident could have been gang-related, FOX 9 reported. St. Paul police, who are leading the investigation, have not confirmed whether gangs were involved, according to the station, and have said only that a fight broke out.
No arrests had been made as of Sunday, police said, and the department said no further details were available, according to MN Crime.
Organizers apologize
Organizers ended the market about two hours early, FOX 9 reported. In a statement, they said they are working closely with police and will share updates.
“We sincerely apologize for how these events transpired and recognize the concern and uncertainty this situation may have caused,” the organizers said, according to FOX 9. “We are committed to prioritizing everyone’s safety and appreciate the patience and understanding of our community as we work through this situation responsibly.”
Questions for city leaders
Union Depot is one of downtown St. Paul’s busiest public spaces and a hub for light rail and bus service. The scene Saturday night, with heavily armed officers sweeping a transit station packed with families, is the kind of public-safety scare that residents of the Twin Cities have seen too often in recent years.
Thankfully, police say no one was shot and no one was hurt. But a sheriff publicly raising the possibility of gang involvement while the lead agency stays silent leaves residents without a clear answer to the most basic question: who started the fight, and will anyone be held accountable? Daily Beltway will update this story if police identify suspects or confirm a motive.
Sources
- FOX 9: Fight at St. Paul’s Union Depot forces thousands to evacuate
- KSTP: Fight at St. Paul Union Depot sparks evacuation
- MN Crime: Fights at Union Depot event prompt large police response
- National Correspondent Network: Union Depot update
- FOX 9 on X
Sources cited
Sources
- Original post: FOX 9 (@FOX9) on X, Nov 1, 2026
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