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Driver shot in nose during alleged road rage incident on I-94 in west-central Minnesota

A caller — later found to have a gunshot wound to his nose — reported that another driver had shot at him while driving westbound on Interstate 94 after the two had a dispute on the roadway. Stearns County deputies were able to locate the alleged shooter, identified as a 23-year-old from Inkster, Michigan.

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AVON — Deputies responding to an apparent road rage shooting found a man with a gunshot wound on the tip of his nose.

A driver on westbound Interstate 94 reported Tuesday evening to the Stearns County Sheriff's Office Emergency Communications Center that another westbound driver had fired a gun at his vehicle.

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The caller then told dispatchers he would continue to his residence a short distance away, according to a news release from the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office. When deputies arrived at the caller's residence, they found he had a gunshot wound on the tip of his nose.

The 911 call about the shooting was made at 7:40 p.m. Tuesday from a location near mile marker 154 in Avon Township between St. Joseph and Avon. The caller said the shooting vehicle had continued westbound.

Deputies located the shooting vehicle, a 2010 black Ford Escape, near the westbound Melrose exit, where they performed a stop and detained the driver. The driver was identified as a 23-year-old man from Inkster, Michigan.

The Sheriff’s Office said in the release that the investigation determined that a road rage incident took place between the suspect and the caller, who was driving a 2012 gray Volkswagen GTI, while both vehicles were traveling westbound on I-94.

At one point during the incident, the suspect allegedly fired a handgun, striking the caller.

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The suspect was booked into the Stearns County Jail on charges of second degree-assault, according to the release.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Melrose Police Department and the Sauk Centre Police Department.

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The investigation is ongoing, and the Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who may have witnessed the event to call 320-259-3700 .

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Dale Morin is a reporter with the West Central Tribune. He covers public safety and breaking news beats.

Dale can be reached at dmorin@wctrib.com or by phone 320-214-4368.
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