At around 10:30 PM on January 12, 2026, officers were sent to Born’s Bar at [ADDRESS REDACTED], St. Paul, Ramsey County on a shooting. Officers found four spent casings at the bar’s entryway and sidewalk. Officers obtained a description of the shooter and learned that he had been dropped off at the Foundry Pub at [ADDRESS REDACTED]. Officers learned that a person who had been in a dispute with the shooter at Born’s Bar, DJ, had showed up at Hennepin County Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his foot.
Officers went to the Foundry Pub and arrested the shooter, MELVIN LAMAR MILLER [DOB REDACTED]. Miller later told police that he had tossed a black handgun in an alley near the cemetery on Sylvan Street. Surveillance video from the bar showed DJ, EJ, and Miller in the bar. DJ and Miller exchanged words, and DJ removed his red sweatshirt. DJ and Miller squared up to fight. DJ swung at Miller’s face, and Miller swung at DJ. DJ grabbed and threw a chair at Miller. A security guard intervened and pushed DJ away from Miller.
The security guard gestured as if telling DJ to leave the bar. DJ grabbed his sweatshirt and yelled at Miller. Miller followed DJ out of the bar. DJ took a fighting stance, and Miller pulled out a handgun and fired 4 times as DJ rushed at Miller. DJ ran back into the bar and Miller left on foot. The security guard told police that DJ was upset because Miller had hugged EJ. DJ told Miller something like, “You better live in this f****** bar because I’m going to shoot you if you come out this bar.” The security guard broke up the physical fight and tried to get DJ to leave.
DJ continued yelling at Miller further escalating the situation. DJ told Miller, “If you come outside, I’m going to hurt you.” DJ and EJ were uncooperative with police at the hospital. DJ claimed he was drunk and had little recall of the incident. Miller has 7 prior felony convictions since 1997. Miller’s convictions for burglary in the first degree and VOCSL 4 make him ineligible to possess firearms or ammunition.
