A incident unfolded in western Sioux Falls on Monday night, resulting in a police pursuit and gunfire. Presently, two individuals are in custody, while law enforcement continues to search for two other persons of interest.
According to authorities, the incident transpired at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Monday when an 18-year-old man and woman were driving in the vicinity of the Empire Mall. The motive behind the occurrence remains unknown, as investigators have yet to establish how or why it initiated. However, the perpetrators tailed the victims’ vehicle and brandished a firearm.
Meanwhile, while officers were en route to the Empire Mall, they received a distress call concerning gunshots in the vicinity of 14th Street and Regal Place, involving the same two vehicles implicated in the initial incident.
Eyewitnesses reported that they observed two men leaning out of their car and discharging firearms at the victims’ vehicle as both cars were in motion.
An unmarked police vehicle spotted the suspect’s car in the 4900 block of West Equestrian. During their attempt to stop the vehicle, one of the occupants fled the scene. In the ensuing chaos, the suspect’s car collided with the police vehicle before fleeing the area. Eventually, law enforcement managed to catch up with the evading car, apprehending the driver and locating the fleeing passenger.
Investigators suspect that there were two other individuals inside the suspect’s vehicle who are currently at large.
During a search of the vehicle, authorities discovered a handgun with a scratched-off serial number, raising concerns about its origins and legality.
The passenger, identified as 18-year-old Quintin Jackson from Sioux Falls, was taken into custody and is now facing multiple charges, including possession of a firearm with an altered serial number and evading law enforcement.
The driver, 21-year-old Aaron Ramos, also from Sioux Falls, was arrested and is facing several charges, including possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, aggravated assault on law enforcement, and driving while intoxicated.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the incident. However, a bullet hole was discovered in the victims’ vehicle, as well as other nearby vehicles. Disturbingly, during the occurrence, a three-year-old child was playing in close proximity to the incident.
Authorities have established that the two groups involved in the incident had no prior connection to each other.