Traffic Crash Leads to Fatal Shooting in Rochester

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM) - Rochester Police reported a 17-year-old boy was shot to death during a confrontation that followed a traffic crash Sunday morning.

Police Captain John Sherwin says officers responded to reports of a shooting at the intersection of East River Road and 31st Street Northeast around 8:20 a.m. and found Muhammed Rahim lying on the road with a fatal gunshot wound to his chest. The Rochester teenager was rushed to St. Marys Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The man who shot Rahim, 25-year-old Alexander Weiss of Rochester was arrested at the scene and the handgun used in the shooting was recovered from him. Captain Sherwin says it has been confirmed Weiss has a valid “permit to carry.”

Based on the evidence at the scene and witness statements, Investigators determined the shooting followed a collision involving a vehicle driven by Weiss and another vehicle driven by Rahim, who had three passengers, another 17-year-old boy, and two females ages 16 and 18-years-old. Preliminary reports indicate Rahim lost control of his vehicle and slid into a ditch. Weiss was driving past the intersection at the time and stopped to avoid a collision, but his vehicle ended up being struck by Rahim’s vehicle when he attempted to back out of the ditch.

While it does not appear to have been a road-rage incident, the crash resulted in a confrontation involving Weiss, who was alone in his vehicle, and Rahim and the 17-year-old male passenger of his vehicle. Sherwin says Weiss has given a statement claiming he was acting in self-defense.

Sherwin says investigators are looking for additional witnesses. Specifically, investigators wish to speak with the occupants of a newer red SUV driven by a white woman in her 30’s that was headed east on 31t Street when the incident occurred.