St. Paul, MN — A Mother’s Cry for Justice: 22-Year-Old Shot Five Times in Front of Toddler Outside Born’s Bar

In the late hours of a seemingly ordinary evening in St. Paul, Minnesota, a young mother’s life was violently and irrevocably changed. What was supposed to be a quiet family outing ended in horror and heartbreak when 22-year-old Lex Rogers was gunned down in a brutal and targeted attack while sitting in her parked vehicle outside Born’s Bar on Rice Street. The most harrowing part? Her two-year-old daughter was sitting inches away in the backseat.

As the community reels from the shock and gravity of this act, the survivor is bravely stepping forward to share her story—not out of bitterness, but from a place of fierce maternal love and an unshakable demand for justice.

A Normal Night Turned Nightmare

The events unfolded on what was meant to be an uneventful night. Lex was in her car, parked near the bar, waiting on a friend. Contrary to what some may assume, she was not drinking, not partying, not even socializing. She was simply in the driver’s seat with her young daughter safely buckled in behind her. Her only intention was to give a ride to someone she trusted.

Suddenly, and without warning, gunfire tore through the quiet night. A vehicle pulled up beside hers, and in an instant, Lex became the target of a hail of bullets. The shooter fired at least five times into her car. Each bullet struck her body with unthinkable force. Her daughter, just a toddler, began screaming from the back seat—confused, terrified, and helpless as her mother fought to remain conscious.

“I was hit five times,” Lex later recounted. “My first thought wasn’t about the pain or whether I would make it. It was my daughter. I just wanted her to be okay.”

The Race to Save Her Life

Emergency services were called immediately by multiple witnesses, some of whom had been inside the bar and heard the gunfire. Police arrived within minutes, securing the scene while paramedics provided life-saving care to the bleeding mother. She was rushed to Regions Hospital in critical condition, where trauma surgeons fought to stabilize her.

Miraculously, her daughter was unharmed physically—but the emotional toll of witnessing such a violent attack at such a young age is immeasurable. “She just kept saying, ‘Mommy hurt. Mommy cry,’” a family member said. “No child should ever see their parent like that.”

Lex survived—though the recovery ahead is long, painful, and uncertain. She has undergone multiple surgeries and faces ongoing physical therapy and emotional healing. Every movement is now a reminder of that night—every scar, every nerve twinge, every missed milestone with her child while she recovers in a hospital bed.

Speaking Out With Purpose

Despite her pain, Lex is choosing to speak out. She has made it clear that she wants to set the record straight—not just about what happened, but about who she is. “I wasn’t out there being reckless. I wasn’t looking for trouble. I’m a mom. I was just trying to help someone out.”

Her words cut through the noise, pushing back against the rumors and stigma that often swirl around incidents like this. Too often, victims of gun violence—especially young Black women—are judged before they’re understood, labeled before they’re heard.

“I’m not a statistic,” she said. “I’m a mother. I’m a daughter. I matter.”

The Investigation and Public Outcry

Police believe the shooting was targeted, though the investigation remains ongoing. As of this writing, no suspects have been publicly named or apprehended. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses, including Born’s Bar, and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Community leaders have voiced deep frustration over the ongoing violence in neighborhoods like Rice Street, where residents say gunfire has become far too common. While this particular shooting has captured headlines due to the sheer brutality of the act, locals insist it’s part of a much larger pattern—one that has left too many families broken and too many questions unanswered.

“We can’t keep living like this,” said a neighborhood pastor during a recent vigil held for Lex. “We need accountability. We need protection. And most of all, we need to care when our daughters are being shot down in the street.”

Trauma Beyond the Physical

Lex’s injuries are devastating—wounds to her chest, shoulder, and abdomen that have required intensive treatment. But just as significant is the emotional toll. PTSD, anxiety, and fear now shadow every moment. She struggles to sleep. Loud noises startle her. She hesitates to take her daughter anywhere, afraid that violence could strike again.

“I used to feel safe in my city,” she said quietly. “Now I don’t even feel safe in my own skin.”

Her daughter has been deeply affected as well. While too young to understand everything, the images and sounds of that night continue to haunt her. Family members say she wakes up crying, sometimes shouting “Boom!” in the middle of the night.

“She’s not the same,” Lex said through tears. “And I don’t know if she ever will be.”

A Call for Accountability

Lex and her family are pleading with the public for help. They are working with community advocates and local media outlets to share her story far and wide, hoping someone will come forward with information that could lead to an arrest.

“We need people to care enough to speak up,” said her cousin. “Somebody knows something. There were witnesses. There are cameras. This can’t just be another unsolved shooting.”

The St. Paul Police Department has assured the family that the case is active and ongoing. Still, the lack of swift justice has left them frustrated. Each day that passes without answers only deepens the trauma.

“This wasn’t just a crime against me,” Lex said. “It was a crime against a mother. Against a child. Against a whole community that’s tired of burying our young people or watching them suffer in silence.”

The Cost of Gun Violence on Families

Lex’s story is not an isolated one. Across the nation, young mothers—especially those in underserved communities—are disproportionately affected by gun violence. The ripple effects are enormous, reaching far beyond the victims to touch their children, families, and entire neighborhoods.

Survivors like Lex often face uphill battles: mounting medical bills, inability to return to work, emotional trauma, and broken trust in the systems meant to protect them. In many cases, their stories are never told, their pain overlooked.

This is precisely why Lex is choosing to speak. She hopes her voice will spark change, raise awareness, and encourage others to push for reforms—whether in gun control laws, community safety programs, or mental health support for survivors and their children.

A Community Comes Together

In the days following the shooting, support has poured in from across St. Paul. Local churches have held prayer circles. Friends have organized meal trains. A fundraiser has been launched to help cover Lex’s mounting medical costs, therapy, and basic living expenses while she remains unable to work.

“We just want her to know she’s not alone,” said one of the organizers. “What happened to her could’ve happened to any of us. We have to protect each other.”

Neighbors are also pushing for better lighting and increased patrols along Rice Street, especially around high-traffic locations like bars and convenience stores. Several city council members have promised to revisit funding for violence prevention programs, though community advocates say the time for talk is long over.

Looking Ahead: Recovery and Hope

Lex knows the road ahead is long. Recovery—physical, emotional, and spiritual—will take time, patience, and resources. But she is determined not to let this moment define her. She has plans to return to school eventually. She wants to build a better life for her daughter. She wants to use her voice to advocate for others like her who are too often silenced or forgotten.

“I survived for a reason,” she said. “Maybe it’s so I can fight for the ones who didn’t. Maybe it’s so I can make things better for my baby.”

She’s also determined not to let fear rule her life. Though every day brings its own set of struggles, she gets up each morning with her daughter beside her—proof that even in the darkest moments, love can still shine through.

A Plea for Justice

As she continues to heal, Lex has just one request: justice. Not just for herself, but for every woman, every mother, every child who has been touched by violence and left to suffer in silence.

“I don’t want revenge,” she said softly. “I want accountability. I want peace. And I want to make sure nobody else has to go through what I did.”

In the end, hers is not just a story of violence—it’s a story of survival, of motherhood, of bravery in the face of terror. And if justice is to be served, it begins by listening—truly listening—to the voice of a mother who nearly lost her life, and who now fights not only for her recovery, but for change.