Tribute to St. Paul father-of-two killed in road rage shooting

The family of the St. Paul man shot to death in a road rage incident on Monday has created a GoFundMe for his funeral expenses.

Tajai Evans, 26, was fatally shot during a confrontation in St. Paul on Monday, with Minneapolis 25-year-old Ian Bursey charged with his murder after claiming to police he "panicked" while being assaulted.

"A protective father, loyal friend, loving son, and amazing brother. Tajai's world revolved around his two beautiful children, Rae'Lynn (4) and Zy'Aire (1), and his family," the GoFundMe reads.

"Anyone whose had the pleasure of knowing him and being in his presence knows he has such a pure heart and genuine soul. He always looked out for everyone and had their best interest at heart before his own."

According to the criminal complaint, Bursey called 911 around 7:30 p.m., saying he'd shot someone who'd assaulted him in a road rage incident.

Police responded to the scene on the 500th block of Front Street and learned that a car had crashed at 12th and Cedar Streets. They found Evans, a passenger in the crashed Toyota Corolla, suffering from a gunshot wound. He died at the scene.

The Corolla driver told police he and Evans were headed north on Interstate-35E near Seventh Street when a Hyundai driver entered the highway, pulled in front of him, and "brake checked" him, charges state.

The driver told police he moved to a different lane to avoid the Hyundai, but the vehicles both exited Maryland Avenue and stopped at a red light.

There, Bursey allegedly accused the Corolla driver of cutting him off and began to follow the Corolla. The Corolla driver told investigators he made a U-turn on Dale Street and pulled into the parking lot of a strip mall to visit the tobacco store.

Bursey allegedly followed the man into the parking lot, threw something at the Corolla, and left. When the Corolla driver returned to his car after visiting the store, they saw the Hyundai pulled over nearby.

The driver told police he pulled up next to the Hyundai, and Evans got out of the vehicle to confront Bursey, punching him multiple times, with Bursey allegedly pulling a gun and shooting Evans.

After the shooting, Evans ran away, and the car sped off towards the hospital before crashing. Police found Bursey standing outside his car and holding a tissue to his bloody nose.

Bursey told investigators that he "panicked" because he thought Evans might've had a gun and the other men in the car were "holding their pockets and kind of sketchy."

"We are asking for help during this time with the unexpected turn of events. With all the love and light Tajai poured into the world, we want to honor his life by giving him a beautiful farewell," The GoFundMe writes. His funeral has been scheduled for Nov. 16, and so far, the family has raised $5,890 of its $10,000 goal.

Bursey has since been charged with two counts of 2nd-degree murder and is in custody.