A Prior Lake man fired a gun at another vehicle from a moving car during an exchange of gunfire on River Ridge Boulevard and I-35W, with security footage capturing multiple people exchanging gunfire in broad daylight, according to charges.
Mahdi Abdihakim Yassin, 19, faces three felony charges: drive-by shooting toward an occupied motor vehicle or building, 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm.
According to the complaint, officers responded to reports of multiple shots fired in the area of River Ridge Boulevard and I-35W in Dakota County on February 13, 2026. Security footage from several nearby businesses and traffic cameras showed four vehicles, two black Honda sedans, a white Hyundai Sonata and a grey Toyota Camry, circling the area in the minutes before the gunfire.
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At about 5:46 p.m., video captured the Camry driving down River Ridge Boulevard, followed closely by one of the black Hondas. Two men could be seen hanging out of the windows of the Honda, firing guns at the Camry near the intersection with South River Ridge Circle. The Honda then sped away northbound on I-35.
Shortly after, the second black Honda and the white Sonata were seen traveling together on I-35. A witness told police she saw a person emerge from the sunroof of the black Honda and fire at the white Sonata, then saw the driver of the Sonata fire back. She reported seeing the driver holding a gun, hearing shots and observing smoke and debris coming from the Sonata.
Traffic cameras showed the Sonata exiting the highway and stopping at Riverfront Park before heading to the US Salt building. There, two men got out, moved around the vehicle and one threw a plastic shopping bag from the car. Both men then ran from the Sonata and were picked up by another vehicle. Officers later found and towed the Sonata from the scene.
The charges allege that Yassin fired a gun at another occupied vehicle, endangered lives and discharged a firearm recklessly in a public area. The complaint does not mention any injuries or recovered firearms.
The charges were filed Friday, August 7, in Dakota County District Court. A court date has not yet been set.
About This Charge
Minnesota classifies assault by degree under § 609.221 (first), § 609.222 (second), § 609.223 (third), § 609.2231 (fourth) and § 609.224 (fifth). First-degree assault, alleging great bodily harm, carries up to 20 years in prison. The lower degrees range from gross-misdemeanor up to 10-year felony exposure depending on weapon use and harm.
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Jurisdictional Context
Dakota County, immediately south of Saint Paul, is Minnesota’s third-largest county by population. The Dakota County Attorney’s Office prosecutes felonies through the First Judicial District; cases are heard at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings.
