2nd arrest in kidnapping, shooting of St. Paul woman found by Uber driver in May Township

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The second suspect in the kidnapping and shooting of a St. Paul woman was arrested Tuesday evening, authorities said.

According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Angel Ignacio Sardina-Padilla was arrested at about 5 p.m. Tuesday in Minneapolis. Luis Mendoza, 23, is also in custody.

On June 9, a 39-year-old woman narrowly survived after an Uber driver found her shot on the side of the road near Stillwater, Minn. Officials say the woman is now out of the hospital.

Police say Mendoza attempted to kill the woman at the order of a gang leader.

According to the charges, it all started when the victim bought a gun from a known gang member and meth dealer, but was $100 short.

The next day, Sardina-Padilla and Mendoza showed up to her apartment and held her and her roommates hostage, eventually forcing the woman into Mendoza’s car where she would remain for hours.

After driving all day, Sardina-Padilla got out of the car, but Mendoza kept driving. After several hours, he stopped on a dirt road near Stillwater. When she entered the car, the woman was given a pill that caused her to lose consciousness. Eventually, she woke up and Mendoza ordered her out of the car. He then pointed a gun at her and shot. The bullet barely missed her heart.

He later told police Sardina-Padilla ordered him to kill her and that he drove around contemplating whether to do it. He said if he didn’t, he feared the gang would kill him, instead.

Mendoza is charged with Attempted 1st Degree Murder for the Benefit of a Gang, Attempted 2nd Degree Murder for Benefit of a Gang, and Kidnapping for the Benefit of a Gang.

Sardina-Padilla is charged with Aiding and Abetting Attempted 1st Degree Murder for the Benefit of a Gang, Aiding and Abetting Attempted 2nd Degree Murder For the Benefit of a Gang, and Aiding and Abetting Kidnapping for the Benefit of a Gang.