Man Charged in Burnsville Highway Shootout; Prosecutors Seek $100,000 Bail, Cite Extreme Public Safety Risk
Pictured: Yahie Abdi Abdul. Provided by the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office Warrant.
Published: August 4, 2026
BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA - Nearly six months after gunfire erupted near a Burnsville family entertainment center and continued onto I-35W during the evening rush, Dakota County prosecutors have charged a 19-year-old Apple Valley man, alleging he intentionally exchanged gunfire with another vehicle on one of Minnesota's busiest highways. Limitless Media News original reporting: Burnsville Police Investigating a Shooting on River Ridge Blvd Near Grand Slam in Burnsville; No Injuries Reported.
Yahie Abdi Abdul, 19, of Apple Valley, was charged Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in Dakota County District Court with three felony offenses:
Drive-By Shooting (Toward Occupied Motor Vehicle or Building)
Second-Degree Assault (Dangerous Weapon)
Dangerous Weapon Violation – Intentional Discharge of a Firearm Endangering Safety
The charges stem from a shooting investigation that began on February 13, 2026, after Burnsville police responded to reports of multiple gunshots near River Ridge Boulevard before investigators determined a second exchange of gunfire occurred moments later on northbound I-35W.
Investigation Reconstructed Through Extensive Surveillance Footage
According to the criminal complaint and warrant, Burnsville police pieced together the events using surveillance footage from numerous nearby businesses and organizations, including:
Dar-Us-Salaam Mosque
Grand Slam Family Entertainment Center
Better Business Bureau
Antiques Minnesota
Metro Sales Inc.
U.S. Salt
Minnesota Department of Transportation traffic cameras
Investigators say the video allowed them to establish a detailed timeline involving four separate vehicles over several minutes.
Those vehicles included:
A black Honda sedan displaying temporary Minnesota registration ("Honda-1")
Abdul's white Hyundai Sonata
A second black Honda sedan ("Honda-2")
A gray Toyota Camry driven by another individual identified only by initials in court documents.
Complaint Alleges Two Connected Shootings
According to prosecutors, surveillance footage showed all four vehicles repeatedly driving around the River Ridge Boulevard area between approximately 5:30 p.m. and 5:46 p.m.
Investigators allege the first shooting occurred when Honda-1 accelerated toward the Toyota Camry along River Ridge Boulevard. Two individuals were allegedly seen hanging out of Honda-1's windows while firing multiple rounds toward the Camry before both vehicles fled.
The complaint states Abdul's Hyundai was parked nearby during that shooting but immediately left the parking lot afterward and drove toward the area where shots had just been fired. Minutes later, investigators allege the violence continued onto northbound Interstate 35W. According to the complaint, Abdul intentionally drove onto the interstate at an unusually slow speed, nearly bringing traffic behind him to a stop until Honda-2 caught up alongside his vehicle.
An eyewitness told investigators she observed a person emerge through the sunroof of the black Honda before gunfire erupted. She also reported seeing the driver of the white Hyundai fire multiple shots back toward the black sedan, stating she saw the firearm, heard the shots, and observed smoke and debris coming from Abdul's vehicle.
Vehicle Later Abandoned
After the interstate shooting, investigators say Abdul exited Interstate 35W at Black Dog Road before driving to Riverfront Park and eventually stopping near the U.S. Salt facility.
Surveillance footage allegedly showed Abdul and another individual exiting the vehicle, opening several doors, discarding what appeared to be a plastic shopping bag, and later fleeing on foot before being picked up by another vehicle.
Law enforcement subsequently recovered and impounded the abandoned Hyundai.
Defendant's Account Contradicted by Evidence, Prosecutors Allege
According to the complaint, Abdul contacted law enforcement approximately two hours after the shooting. He allegedly told investigators he had driven to Burnsville to visit the Dar-Us-Salaam Mosque before remembering he needed a tuberculosis test for a job application. He claimed a random dark-colored sedan began shooting at him on Interstate 35W for no apparent reason and denied possessing or firing a gun.
He initially stated he had been alone before later telling investigators another individual known only as "Abdirahman" had been with him.
Prosecutors allege Abdul's statements were contradicted by surveillance video, traffic camera footage, eyewitness testimony, and forensic evidence recovered from his vehicle.
BCA Examination Found Evidence Shots Were Fired From Inside Vehicle
According to the criminal complaint, forensic examination by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension found extensive ballistic evidence inside Abdul's Hyundai. Investigators documented multiple bullet strikes entering the vehicle from outside but also identified 11 ballistic defects inside the vehicle.
The complaint states:
Six defects were consistent with projectiles traveling from inside the vehicle outward through the driver's side window.
Another defect in the driver's side windshield was also consistent with a shot fired from inside the vehicle.
Investigators recovered two spent shell casings inside the vehicle, one from a Fiocchi 9mm Luger handgun and another from a PMC .40 S&W handgun.
Prosecutors argue those findings directly contradict Abdul's claim that he never possessed or fired a firearm during the incident.
Per the complaint, Abdul’s vehicle was towed and stored for a period of time before being searched by law enforcement officers and examined by the Minnesota BCA. Abdul’s vehicle had multiple obvious bullet holes in the driver’s side window, as well as in multiple other places on the vehicle, as is depicted below.
Ballistic Evidence Linked to Other Twin Cities Investigations
The complaint further alleges the shell casings recovered from Abdul's vehicle were analyzed through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).
According to prosecutors, both firearms used during the February shooting have been linked to multiple other open shooting investigations throughout the Twin Cities metro area.
The complaint does not identify those investigations, and no additional charges connected to those cases have been announced.
Prosecutors Seek High Bail, Cite Danger to Public
Along with filing charges, prosecutors are requesting that Abdul be held on $100,000 unconditional bail, or $80,000 bail with conditions.
In court filings, prosecutors with the Dakota County Attorney's Office argued that the requested bail is warranted because of the extreme danger the alleged conduct posed to the public.
The State is requesting a significant amount of bail in this case because the Defendant has been charged with an offense that occurred on a crowded highway in the middle of the evening with a number of other people and vehicles present and easily could have resulted in the deaths of not just the Defendant's alleged intended targets, but other motorists as well.
Prosecutors further argued that the nature of the alleged shooting itself creates "acute concerns for public safety" that justify imposing a substantial bail amount.
Arrest Warrant Issued
Court records show an arrest warrant has now been issued for Abdul in connection with the case.
The warrant identifies Abdul as a 19-year-old Apple Valley man described as approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the warrant remained active.
Previous Reporting
When the shooting occurred on February 13, Burnsville police initially responded to reports of a possible drive-by shooting outside Grand Slam. Numerous shell casings were recovered from the roadway, but no injuries were reported. Limitless Media News original reporting: Burnsville Police Investigating a Shooting on River Ridge Blvd Near Grand Slam in Burnsville; No Injuries Reported.
Early radio dispatches described a black sedan involved in the shooting, though investigators later determined through months of surveillance review, witness interviews, and forensic analysis that the incident involved multiple vehicles and two separate exchanges of gunfire.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not announced whether additional suspects connected to either shooting have been charged.
As with all criminal cases, the charges contained in the complaint are allegations. Abdul is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Written By: Will Wight
