Charges: Man crashed car, shot at state troopers after girlfriend ended relationship

Authorities have identified the suspect and the Minnesota State Patrol trooper who exchanged gunfire on Interstate 94 over the weekend.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension say Eddie Freeman III, 23, of Minneapolis, has been charged with six felonies following the incident on the freeway between Dowling Ave. North and West Broadway Saturday night.

In its preliminary report, the BCA says that Freeman allegedly opened fire immediately after Trooper Mark Vande Steeg arrived at the scene after Freeman had crashed.

Vande Steeg returned fire during the exchange. A one-year veteran of the state patrol, he is currently on standard critical incident leave.

According to the criminal complaint, troopers were called to a single-car crash on I-94 near Dowling Avenue North in Minneapolis shortly after 10 p.m.

As troopers were en route, they received additional information that shots had been fired. When Vande Steeg arrived at the scene he came under "immediate fire" from Freeman, who fired multiple shots at his squad car.

Vande Steeg was not hit, but a bullet hole was observed in his squad car. No one was struck by gunfire or injured, and Freeman was taken into custody a short time later.

During the arrest, Freeman allegedly spat on the Minneapolis police officer who was assisting.

Freeman's girlfriend was found in the crashed car, and she told police that as they were driving on I-94, she had told Freeman that their relationship was over.

Freeman allegedly grabbed the steering wheel, causing the car to crash. He was able to exit the car before she could, and she heard multiple gunshots from the area outside her car but could not see due to airbags blocking her vision.

Officers examined the car and found a bullet hole in the driver’s side door near where the woman was seated.

Two bystanders tried to assist after the car crash, but as they got close to the car to help, they saw Freeman aiming a gun at them, and both bystanders ran back to their vehicle as they heard gunshots.

Freeman's first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. He is currently held in the Hennepin County jail on a $300,000 bond with conditions.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

Related: 2 separate shootings on I-94 reported just an hour apart