A man leaving Bible study in St. Paul with his father and young daughter was shot on Wednesday night. And police who followed a blood trail found the man mortally wounded with his Bible next to him.

The man’s father called 911 at 8:40 p.m. to report someone opened fire as they left St. Albans Church of God in Christ in the Summit-University neighborhood, said Steve Linders, a St Paul police spokesman.

“Why anyone would shoot into a crowd in a neighborhood while people are leaving church is incomprehensible,” Linders said. “At this point, investigators do not believe this was a random shooting, but until we find the person or people responsible we won’t know for sure.”

The man’s killing was the sixth fatal shooting in St. Paul this month and the 20th homicide of the year.

About an hour later, police received reports of shots fired and they found blood in St. Paul’s North End. Officers did not immediately locate an injured person.

KILLED OUTSIDE CHURCH

Officers who responded to the fatal shooting found a group of people “who were obviously quite shaken up” in the area of Aurora Avenue and St. Albans Street, a block south of University Avenue, Linders said.

The man who died was leaving church with a group of people when someone fired a gun at them. His father, who has a permit to carry, drew a handgun and returned fire, according to police.

After the man was hit, he ran from the area. Police discovered him nearby, with a bullet wound to the abdomen.

Officers began CPR and paramedics responded, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

No one was arrested Wednesday night. Police asked anyone with information to call them at 651-266-5650.

GUNSHOTS NEAR SITE OF RECENT HOMICIDE

Also on Wednesday, at about 9:40 p.m., police received a report of shots fired at Rice Street and Winnipeg Avenue, outside the Winnipeg Grocery and Deli.

Multiple callers reported anywhere between nine and 15 shots fired, according to emergency radio traffic.

Officers discovered evidence of a shooting and blood, but didn’t find an injured person on Wednesday night. Police have not been able to confirm whether someone was shot, Linders said.

On Sept. 9, 18-year-old Raumez Ross was fatally shot in the same area. It’s unclear whether either of Wednesday’s shootings were related to each other or Ross’ homicide, police said.

Police Chief Todd Axtell announced a five-step plan, including having extra officers on patrol, on Sept. 10, after there were three homicides in an 8-hour span.