Artist Executed While Leaning Over Her Street Painting in Random Attack: ‘One of the Most Cold-Blooded Things I’ve Ever Seen’

A Minnesota artist was shot and killed last Wednesday while painting her street mural. Police are calling this a “random” and “cold-blooded” attack.

Carrie Shobe Kwok, 66, of St. Paul, knelt over a colorful art project she had been working on to brighten the community as surveillance footage showed the moment she was shot.

The shooter, later identified as 29-year-old Seantrell Murdock, was found at an address in Belle Plaine, about an hour from St. Paul.

As St. Paul police prepared to confront Murdock on Thursday, he came out of the house with a handgun. Two officers shot him and he was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he died.

St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry said what happened to Kwok was “one of the most cold-blooded things I’ve seen in my life” because they found no evidence that she and Murdock knew each other or even had an argument had, KSTP reported.

St. Paul police say that man, 29-year-old Seantrell Murdock, was the suspect who killed Kwok. He was killed by two officers outside a home in Belle Plaine

Pictured: The mural Kwok was working on when she was shot. Friends and family have since laid flowers

“This murder that took place in our city, which led us to speak today about this officer-involved shooting, has all sorts of hallmarks and flags that I think will emerge in the coming days as a state and as a country “I have to start taking it more seriously,” Henry said during a press conference.

Murdock, who had four children, suffered from bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, court documents uncovered by KSTP show.

CBS reported that Murdock’s mother took him to the emergency room in January 2023 for mental health concerns.

Court records show Murdock physically and verbally assaulted employees there, requiring “physical restraints and emergency medication.”

He said he was “afraid of himself” and made contradictory statements. He said he didn’t want to harm anyone, before also saying he wanted to “kill others.”

That same year, a Scott County judge ordered him to be civilly convicted, an order that was stayed.

This means that as long as Murdock voluntarily participated in treatment, the court will not enforce the commitment order, according to NAMI Minnesota.

It is unclear whether he sought or continued treatment, but Murdock’s case was dismissed in August 2023.

Murdock is also a felon, having been convicted of first-degree burglary in 2014.

Meanwhile, family and friends remember Kwok as a gentle soul who was extremely generous.

Julie Shobe, Kwok’s sister, said Kwok made clothes from vintage fabrics and tablecloths

Kwok is pictured with two of her grandchildren and her sister Julie

“She has helped countless people. She always wanted to take care of others,” Kwok’s sister Julie Shobe told KSTP. “I thought I was going to die before her, so it’s crazy. ‘Terribly sad.’

Shobe said Kwok was a member of the Lowertown Lofts Artist Cooperative in St. Paul, which became her main creative outlet.

“She had a lot of interests,” Shobe said. “She made clothes from vintage fabrics or repurposed antiques. She made shirts out of old tablecloths, like women’s clothing.”

The co-op made a social media post immediately after news of the shooting broke, before Kwok or the suspect were identified.

“This afternoon one of our members was shot while working on an art project outside of our building. “At the moment we do not have much information, but we are working closely with the authorities to resolve this tragic event,” the cooperative wrote on Facebook.

The statement continued: “We ask our friends and neighbors not to speculate on the situation.” “Our community is in shock and grief as we grapple with the unimaginable.”

Later, Kwok’s friends at the co-op remembered her and spoke to reporters right next to the mural where she died while working

Ben Krywosz (left) and Tara Tieso (right) were among the cooperative members who praised Kwok

Shobe said Kwok was a devout Christian, which was a comfort to her

Later, Kwok’s friends at the co-op remembered her and spoke to reporters right next to the mural where she died while working.

“The curiosity I mentioned before was there. “She loved life,” said Ben Krywosz, the cooperative’s president.

Tara Tieso described Kwok as “sparkling.”

“Every time she talked to you, you saw little sparkly things around her,” Tieso said.

“When she came by, she was in a place that she loved so much,” Tieso added, explaining that several other artists were with her at the scene. “She knew we loved her.”

Kwok leaves behind two children and four grandchildren.

“It’s extremely difficult,” Shobe said. “It’s unimaginable.”

Shobe said Kwok was a devout Christian, which was a comfort to her.

“Our family basically rests in this peace,” Shobe said. “There are many people praying for us and I hope God’s presence comforts everyone.”