A man was shot dead in a home in St. Paul’s West Seventh neighborhood on Wednesday night, and police have made an arrest in the case.

Police were called about 11 p.m. Wednesday to the report of a shooting in the 400 block of Michigan Street, just off West Seventh Street. In the lower level of a duplex, officers found a man with an apparent gunshot wound, said Steve Linders, a St. Paul police spokesman.

Officers rendered aid until St. Paul fire department paramedics took over, but the man died at the scene, Linders said.

Police have not yet confirmed the victim’s identity, but Cristy Finklea said it was her son, 25-year-old Justin Finklea.

Finklea was a father of two from Forest Lake. His mother described him as happy and outgoing.

“He was just a loving soul and loved his children and wanted to do right by them and loved his family. Family was very important to him,” his mother said.

She said he loved spending time with his 5- and 7-year-old boys and was looking forward to dressing up as Santa for them on Christmas morning.

Cristy Finklea reported that her son and his friend were drinking and playing with a gun. She said the shot was accidental and Finklea died quickly. Initial emergency radio traffic indicated Finklea was shot under his arm.

“I feel bad because I know it was an accident, he didn’t mean to do it,” she said. “It could have very easily been my son in jail, and [his friend] the other way. I feel very bad for his family and all the stuff they have to go through. I wouldn’t press charges against him at all.”

Several witnesses were in the duplex and all knew each other, Linders said. Officers brought the witnesses to police headquarters to be interviewed. They are cooperating with the investigation, Linders said.

Officers arrested a man who had been in the duplex. Joel Andrew Paulson, 31, of Stacy, Minn., was booked into the Ramsey County jail on suspicion of murder.

Paul Lomelino, who lives across the street, said he didn’t hear the shot but woke to crime tape and police cars in front of his house. Related Articles Man reports he had to stab his dog after attack in St. Paul; police investigating

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“That house has had problems. I’ve lived here four years, and they’ve had at least three or four different groups of people coming in and out. I hope the landlord gets a good group next time,” Lomelino said. “There are so many people going in and out of that house, I never know who’s there.”

Finklea’s homicide is the 22nd of the year in St. Paul.

In addition to his sons, survivors include his parents and four siblings. A GoFundMe was set up online.