Man Calls 911 After Being Shot While Driving, Dies Hours Later

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- St. Paul police are investigating after a man was fatally shot late Wednesday night while driving in the city's Midway neighborhood.

The St. Paul Police Department says the shooting happened just before 10 p.m. near the intersection of University and Snelling avenues. The victim called 911 himself after hearing gunshots while driving along Snelling Avenue and realizing he was hit.

Officers found the man in his Toyota Prius pulled over near a bus stop, suffering from a grave gunshot wound to his chest. Emergency crews brought him to Regions Hospital, where he died hours later.

He has been identified as 55-year-old Jeffery Adam Mintz of St. Paul.

"Minnesota lost an incredible human being," said Michael Spatz, a childhood best friend of Mintz. The two met in their mutual hometown of Chicago, where Spatz still lives today. However, he says Mintz always liked to identify as a Minnesotan.

"He just loves Minnesota, he's the biggest Minnesota 'Rah-Rah' you'll ever meet in your life," said Spatz.

Mintz was an Uber Eats driver during the pandemic. Spatz believes he may have been out on one of his routes at the time of the shooting.

"If this turns out to be because he was delivering food, that's just even more terrible," said Spatz, "It's just unbelievable, I mean it's shocking."

Spatz says Mintz was a father to two kids. His daughter was getting married in two weeks.

"Whoever shot him, had no regard for life," said Spatz.

So far, no arrests have been made. Investigators are trying to determine if the shooting was random, targeted or perhaps an incident of road rage. Preliminary findings suggest the shooter was in another car.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call 651-266-5650.

This death marks the 32nd homicide in the city this year, breaking last year's record and becoming the deadliest year in the capital city in more than a quarter century.

"It's a grim milestone and one we wish we didn't have to see," St. Paul police spokesperson Steve Linders said.

Of the year's 32 homicides, 28 have been solved. As for shootings in the city, St. Paul has documented more than 200, setting an all-time record.