A 21-year-old Cheyenne man was arrested Thursday in connection with a September deadly shooting in a King Soopers parking lot following a suspected road rage encounter.
Mansoor Ali turned himself in at the Laramie County Jail, where he was booked on one count of second-degree murder and four counts of aggravated assault.
Ali’s arrest followed a lengthy, thorough investigation, Cheyenne Police Chief Mark Francisco said in a statement. “These investigations take time, and while we can’t always release details immediately, progress is being made behind the scenes,” he said.
On Sept. 20 at 9:06 p.m., officers were dispatched to a report of shots fired in the King Soopers parking lot at 3702 Dell Range Boulevard. It was there that they found a 19-year-old man with gunshot wounds.
First aid was administered until medical personnel arrived at the strip mall, which includes three restaurants, a gas station, and a few other small businesses. The victim, whose name has not been released by the Laramie County Coroner, later died.
Officers contacted Ali, who identified himself as the shooter, and detained him, police said.
Cheyenne detectives determined that earlier in the evening, Ali was at a Walmart parking lot, at 2032 Dell Range Boulevard.
“While there, he witnessed an altercation involving store staff, the 19-year-old shooting victim, and his three friends. Ali, driving a pickup truck, offered assistance to Walmart staff, which was declined,” said police.
Ali, who was operating a Ford Raptor, allegedly followed the four individuals, who were in a Chevrolet Cavalier, out of the parking lot and onto Dell Range Boulevard.
While traveling behind the car, Ali allegedly began harassing the group by activating his high-beam headlights.
In response, the car accelerated and abruptly braked, escalating the conflict and prompting both vehicles to continue driving recklessly, according to police.
Ali allegedly called his brother during the dispute, stating that he would lure the group to a nearby parking lot.
He then parked at King Soopers, got out of his vehicle, and, while yelling, pointed a pistol at the car carrying the shooting victim and the three other individuals, police said.
After seeing the gun, the driver of the car drove away at a high rate of speed but returned moments later.
The victim got out of the moving vehicle while holding a firearm and was shot several times, police said.
Scott Schwebke can be reached at scott@cowboystatedaily.com.
