Charges: I-35 shooting was random, Minnesota man's gun was stolen

CHISAGO COUNTY, Minn. (FOX 9) - A Forest Lake, Minnesota man has been charged with three felonies after allegedly shooting into a moving car while driving north on Interstate 35 near Wyoming, Minnesota.

Trinidad Jesus Garcia, 26, was charged in Chisago County with second-degree assault, drive-by shooting and illegal possession of firearm after he allegedly fired from his car into another while both were driving north on I-35 on Friday, March 1.

Shortly after the alleged shooting, Garcia drove his BMW into a ditch. Responding officers were told by Garcia that he had a gun in his front pocket. Officer then directed Garcia to exit the car by crawling out the passenger side door and placed him under arrest.

After Garcia’s car went into the ditch, a white Ford pick-up truck pulled up in front of the responding State Patrol trooper’s car. The driver of the pick-up advised officers that someone had shot and “something had hit him.”

Authorities investigating the incident saw a bullet hole in the passenger side door. Though upset, responding officers said the victim did not need medical attention.  

The victim reported he was driving home from work at about 45 mph due to poor weather conditions when “he heard a pop.”

A dark BMW then sped past him and lost control before going into the ditch. The victim stated he had never met Garcia and had not had any kind of altercation with him prior to the alleged shooting.

Police recovered a stolen handgun and more than $11,000 from Garcia's car. According to the criminal complaint, Garcia said he was heading toward Canada.

Garcia is currently in the Chisago County Jail.