Charges pending against suspected shooter in Isanti road rage case

Charges could come this week against a man who allegedly shot another man in the face during an apparent road-rage incident outside the Isanti Police Department over the weekend, authorities reported Sunday.

Isanti police said the shooting happened Saturday afternoon after dispatchers received a call about a fight in the department parking lot.

As officers were coming out of the station, they heard a shot, according to Police Chief Ron Sager. Officers had no involvement in the shooting itself, he said.

The shooting was the culmination of an apparent road rage incident involving the men on Hwy. 65, near the station, Sager said.

Police are still investigating what led to the initial dispute, the chief said. The name of the suspect and the shooting victim had not been released as of late Sunday. That is expected to happen Monday.

The altercation involved two motorcyclists and a man driving a car. Police did not say who made the initial call for help, but the motorcyclists and the driver ended up in the parking lot about 4:05 Saturday afternoon, they said in a news release.

A fight ensued, and one of the men pulled a gun and shot one of the other men in the face.

Sager said the shooting victim was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

His condition was not available Sunday, but police said he was conscious when he was flown to the hospital.

Christine Hill, an Isanti resident, said she heard shots around 4 p.m. as she stopped with her daughter at a thrift store near the station.

Hill, who is also a spokeswoman for HCMC, said Sunday afternoon that when she and her daughter arrived, they saw a man on the ground but not a lot of blood.

She said they saw two motorcycles and two men, one of whom appeared to be in the custody of an officer and another on the ground without his shirt on.

The alleged shooter was booked into the Isanti County jail, police said.

Heron Marquez • 952-746-3281