On Saturday, Sept. 21, a 23-year-old man allegedly fired bullets at a state trooper after crashing his ex-girlfriend’s car as she attempted to end their relationship in Minneapolis, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Troopers from the Minnesota State Patrol were summoned to the incident site near eastbound I-94 and Dowling Avenue just after 10 p.m. Saturday. Before authorities arrived, there were reports of gunshots being fired at the scene.
State trooper Mark Vande Steeg arrived at the incident and allegedly “came under almost immediate gunfire” from Eddie James Freeman III, 23, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
Authorities claimed Vande Steeg and Freeman exchanged gunfire, but no one was wounded or harmed. Body cam footage revealed BCA crime scene responders discovering a firearm near where Freeman was arrested and examining bullet holes in the police cruiser.
According to a criminal complaint acquired by Fox 9, Vande Steeg, who was named by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, arrived at the scene, activated his squad lights and sirens, and then shone a flashlight on the suspect, who matched Freeman’s description.
The lawsuit stated that Freeman “raised his hand and pointed what appeared to be a gun in the officer’s direction,” and that Vande Steeg fired fire. Additional Minneapolis Police Department officers responded to the site.
Then, several officers surrounded Freeman. He tossed the gun before being detained, and police recovered it. The criminal complaint alleges that he spit in the face of a Minneapolis police officer while being apprehended.
Law enforcement then met with the vehicle’s driver, who identified herself as Freeman’s girlfriend. They were driving on I-94 when she told Freeman that their “relationship was over.” Freeman allegedly grabbed the steering wheel and crashed the vehicle.
Following the crash, he exited the vehicle, and the woman, whose name has not been released, reported hearing gunshots. Police said they located a bullet hole in the driver’s side door, but no one was hurt.
Two witnesses who were going to assist left the area when they noticed someone brandishing a gun at them. According to PEOPLE, they fled away after hearing around six gunshots.