UPDATE: Man charged with murder following fatal I-94 shooting in Minneapolis
A 38-year-old man has been identified as the shooting victim in an incident that took place on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis on Sunday and a 47-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the incident.
According to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, 38-year-old Luis Damian Martinez Ortiz, from Minneapolis, died from a gunshot wound to the chest in the deadly incident that took place on Sunday near the exit of Dowling Avenue North.
Charges have been filed against a 47-year-old Minneapolis man in connection with the incident. According to a criminal complaint, George Howard has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder.
The complaint details the following:
Surveillance video reportedly showed Ortiz, in a blue BMW, and Howard, in a white Volvo, "get into a road rage incident" on the ramp entering the interstate.
Ortiz could be seen getting out of his vehicle and approaching Howard’s vehicle. Ortiz then collapsed and Howard could be seen driving away. Ortiz got back into his vehicle, drove down the ramp and subsequently crashed, surveillance video showed.
Investigators were able to get the Volvo’s license plate via surveillance video and were able to track Howard to a nearby gas station. Surveillance video showed Howard exiting the Volvo and a passenger inside the Volvo taking the driver’s seat, then driving away from the gas station.
Investigators spoke with that passenger who drove the Volvo away from the gas station. The passenger told investigators Ortiz allegedly punched Howard before Howard allegedly fired a shot and left the scene.
When investigators interviewed him, Howard admitted to getting into a road rage incident with Ortiz but initially claimed nothing happened. When investigators prompted Howard with the surveillance video, Howard claimed there was yet another passenger in the Volvo who shot Ortiz from the back seat. Investigators reported Howard was unable to provide identifying information about this additional passenger.
From a previous conviction, Howard is prohibited from possessing a firearm.