A road rage encounter in St. Paul escalated to gunfire, leaving one man dead and another facing murder charges in a tragic case of claimed self-defense.
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ST. PAUL, MN
– In a tragic escalation of road rage, a
Minnesota
man now faces murder charges after allegedly shooting another man during a heated confrontation in St. Paul. The suspect claims he acted in panic when the altercation turned physical, according to court documents.
Fatal Encounter Stemming from Road Rage
Ian L. Bursey, 25, of Minneapolis, was charged Wednesday with two counts of second-degree murder following the death of Tajai Evans, 26, of St. Paul. According to the criminal complaint, Bursey called 911 around 7:30 p.m. Monday, stating he had shot someone who had assaulted him in a road rage incident.
Police arrived at the scene on Front Street, where they found Evans, a passenger in a Toyota Corolla, suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite the efforts of a nurse on-site and medics who arrived shortly after, Evans was pronounced dead at the scene.
Road Rage Turns Deadly
The driver of the Corolla told police they were traveling north on Interstate-35E when a Hyundai, driven by Bursey, pulled in front and “brake checked” him. The driver attempted to switch lanes to avoid further confrontation, but both cars exited the freeway, eventually stopping at a red light. Bursey allegedly accused the Corolla driver of cutting him off and followed the vehicle through multiple turns before they stopped at a strip mall, where Bursey threw an object at the Corolla before leaving.
Shortly afterward, the Corolla driver and Evans encountered Bursey again. When they pulled up next to his vehicle, Evans exited the Corolla and allegedly began punching Bursey, who was seated in his Hyundai. According to the complaint, “The assault lasted 3-5 seconds before Bursey fired a gun 4-5 times,” fatally wounding Evans. The driver of the Corolla later told police that Evans was unarmed, adding, “Bursey shot so fast after [Evans] started punching it seemed like Bursey had been planning something.”
Suspect Claims Self-Defense Amid Contradictions
Bursey, who agreed to speak with investigators, claimed he was heading to St. Paul for his job as a ride-share driver when the Corolla allegedly cut him off “about five times.” He recounted a brief exchange in which he reportedly asked the occupants not to cut him off, saying “they laughed and pointed at him and said they do what they want.” Bursey told police he only drove past the tobacco store to record the Corolla’s license plate, yet he admitted he did not capture it or write it down.
When the confrontation turned physical, Bursey alleged he “tried to punch back, but he couldn’t,” noting that Evans “tried to grab [his] arm.” Bursey stated he racked a round in his firearm to deter the attack, ultimately firing multiple shots to “get Evans off of him.”
Investigators noted that Bursey claimed he panicked, explaining, “it looked like Evans might’ve had a gun” and that the other occupants were “holding their pockets and kind of sketchy.” However, when asked how he could observe pocket movements in the other vehicle, Bursey admitted he “could not have possibly seen someone grabbing their pockets,” the complaint states.
Surveillance and Mental Health History
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators indicated that the Corolla was parked in the lot for several minutes before Bursey arrived and reignited contact with the vehicle’s occupants.
The criminal complaint also details a recent history of mental health concerns involving Bursey, including a petition filed by his father for a guardian or conservator last year. Diagnosed with schizophreniform disorder, anxiety, and depression, Bursey’s petition was ultimately dismissed in July.
Next Steps in a Tragic Case
As the case proceeds, Bursey faces serious charges with substantial evidence for prosecutors and a complex narrative of alleged self-defense. This confrontation serves as a stark reminder of how everyday interactions can tragically escalate—a lesson in the volatility of human emotion and the impact of one split-second decision.
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Crime
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Minnesota
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