West St. Paul Man Sentenced In 2020 Shooting

WEST SAINT PAUL, MN — A West Saint Paul man was sentenced Friday to over 31 years in prison in connection with a 2020 shooting, according to a news release by Dakota County Attorney Kathryn Keena.

Steven Buford, 22, pled guilty in November to second-degree murder and first-degree attempted aggravated robbery in connection with the fatal shooting of Lauren Summer Koffi-n’guessan, 22, of West St. Paul, the news release said. He will serve 4.5 years in prison on his robbery charge at the same time as the murder charge, Keena said.

West Saint Paul police were dispatched to an apartment building on the night of Sept. 4, 2020 on a report of a disturbance, officials said. A witness told officers that he had seen a man behaving erratically and that he had jumped from a second-story balcony at the apartment building, according to the news release.

The witness said he saw a man arguing with Koffi-n’guessan, but was unsure where the two had gone, according to officials.

Officers were checking around the outside of the building when they heard a gunshot and saw Koffi-n’guessan lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head, the news release said. Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to officials.

Officers saw Buford running through the parking lot, and moments later heard a woman screaming and saw a her standing outside her car holding an infant and standing with her 7-year-old son, the news release said. Buford was found in the backseat of the car with the woman's 12-year-old son, police said.

Officers arrested Buford and asked where the gun was, and he told them it was in the woman's car, according to the news release. Police found a snub nose revolver in the car after speaking with him, officials said.

"I am pleased that Mr. Buford has entered pleas of guilty for the commission of these violent crimes thereby sparing those victimized by his actions from having to endure the stressors of a trial," Keena said. "My deepest sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Ms. Koffi-n’guessan."