A Cottage Grove man who pleaded guilty to firing a gun at another motorist as they drove along Interstate 35 in Lakeville was sentenced to one year in the workhouse and five years of probation on Wednesday.

Joshua Taylor Keenan, 29, had entered an Alford plea to second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with the shooting on northbound I-35 on May 11, 2021. The plea means Keenan maintained his innocence while acknowledging the state likely had enough evidence to convict him of the charge.

Joshua Taylor Keenan (Courtesy of the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office)

The criminal complaint says Keenan pointed a Glock 9mm handgun through his open passenger-side window and fired a round. No one was struck.

A complaint does not mention a possible motive, only that the motorist saw Keenan pass him in his Volkswagen Jetta, fall behind and then drive on a grassy median to pass a line of cars.

Once the two were side-by-side, Keenan pointed the gun at the motorist, who then “heard a loud shot and drove at about 85 mph in order to get away from the Jetta,” the complaint states.

Eagan police and the Minnesota State Patrol made a felony traffic stop on Keenan, who was alone in the car.

A black Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun was found in a bag on the passenger seat; the gun was loaded with a round in the chamber and five of six possible rounds in the magazine. The bag also contained another loaded magazine. A fully loaded handgun was found in the glove box.

The motorist did not want to show up at the scene to identify the shooter out of fear for his safety. He picked Keenan out of a photo lineup the next day.

In departing downward from state sentencing guidelines, Dakota County District Judge Cynthia McCollum cited Keenan’s remorse and his amenability to probation and treatment. The judge stayed a three-year prison sentence for five years.

The prosecutor objected to the departure, according to court records.

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