Minneapolis man gets 4 years for St. Paul road‑rage shootings
A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to four years in prison for firing a gun at other vehicles in two separate road‑rage incidents in St. Paul, according to Ramsey County court records reported Monday. Prosecutors said he repeatedly shot at occupied vehicles during confrontations on St. Paul streets, but no deaths were reported; the case underscores how quickly traffic disputes in the metro have been turning violent. The judge imposed a 48‑month term under Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines, meaning the defendant will likely serve about two‑thirds in prison and the rest on supervised release if he stays out of trouble. The sentence comes as St. Paul and Minneapolis police have both been warning about an uptick in armed confrontations tied to aggressive driving, and residents have been using social media to vent about feeling less safe on major arterials. Court records also show mandatory probation conditions and a ban on possessing firearms after release.
📌 Key Facts
- Defendant is a Minneapolis man sentenced to 4 years in prison in Ramsey County District Court.
- He admitted firing at vehicles during two separate road‑rage incidents on St. Paul streets.
- No fatalities were reported, but the shootings involved occupied vehicles and led to a felony prison term and future firearms prohibition.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2022, Black individuals were responsible for 74% (98 out of 133) of homicides where the race of the offender was known in Minnesota, despite comprising only 7% of the state's population.
The demographics of crime in Minnesota, with updated 2022 data — Center of the American Experiment
In Minnesota, 62 percent of victims of violent crime were of the same race as the person perpetrating violence against them.
Minnesota Criminal Justice Data Snapshot — Justice Reinvestment Initiative
Young Black males ages 15-34 made up 1.2% of Minnesota's population but accounted for 40% of all gun homicide deaths in 2023.
State Data: Minnesota — Center for Gun Violence Solutions
Road rage shooting incidents in the United States increased from 83 in 2014 to 456 in 2023, a 449% increase.
Road rage shootings remain high, report says — LiveNOW from FOX
In Minnesota, there were 182 murders in 2022, a 9.5% decrease from 201 in 2021.
BCA releases 2022 Uniform Crime Report — Minnesota Department of Public Safety
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time