Charges: Man Sets St. Paul Apartment Ablaze, Fires Several Gunshots

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- A 26-year-old St. Paul man is facing charges following a fire at an apartment complex Monday where gunshots were also fired, according to charges filed in Ramsey County Court.

Leon Edward Mastel has been charged with two felony counts of first-degree arson and one count of dangerous discharge of a firearm in connection with the incident.

According to the charges, St. Paul police officers were called to assist the St. Paul Fire Department at about 2:21 p.m. Monday with an apartment fire at 1146 Mackubin Street. Ramsey County Dispatch notified authorities that gunshots could be heard coming from inside the apartment complex.

When officers arrived, they made contact with the man who lived in the apartment, identified as Mastel. He told police that "guys" were coming after him, so he shot at them. He had a difficult time answering questions, told officers he had at least two guns in his apartment and appeared very paranoid, the charges state.

He told police he set his apartment on fire to prevent the men from getting in. He then jumped out of his window into the parking lot to get away.

The complaint states Mastel told authorities he thought somebody hacked into his cell phone so to protect himself, he loaded his guns and had them laying on the floor next to his bed. They were a 30/30 shotgun and a .22 magnum.

Mastel was in bed when he heard his doorknob turn and could hear people coming in. He told police he thought they were sent by an ex-girlfriend. He picked up his shotgun, pointed it at the bedroom door and yelled, "Stop or I'll shoot!" the complaint states.

According to the complaint, he thought they were still coming and picked up his .22 magnum, shooting through the bedroom door from top to bottom to make sure he hit the men. He then thought they were still coming, so he grabbed a notebook and soaked it in cologne and aftershave, then lit it on fire.

Mastel told police he also grabbed boxes of facial tissue and a pillow and threw it on the fire. He then reloaded his shotgun and was going to "shoot out" the door, but the smoke was too thick so he broke a window with his shotgun and jumped out. Mastel saw a fire department vehicle in the parking lot, so he went and sat in it, according to the complaint.

Authorities spoke with Mastel's mother, who said he suffered from depression and anxiety but didn't know if he had ever been diagnosed with a mental illness. The night before, he told her someone was after him and threatened him.

The complaint states that his ex-girlfriend had broken up with him a long time ago, and she blocked his phone number and Facebook account from her devices. Her mother told police she received a voice mail from him on July 18, saying the woman was at his apartment with several guys and they were threatening him.

The residence is a multi-unit apartment complex, and other residents were inside the building at the time of the incident. Firefighters were able to put the blaze out, and authorities said it was incendiary in nature.

Police also observed several bullet holes in the bedroom door and bedroom closet door. Several guns were also recovered from the bedroom.

If convicted, Mastel faces up to 44 years in prison and/or $60,000 in fines.