Minnesota baseball coach is shot in the head and killed in road rage attack while driving with his son, 15, who gave him CPR until an ambulance arrived
- Jay Boughton was taking his son home from a baseball game when the driver of another vehicle shot him in the head at around 10pm on Tuesday in Plymouth
- The father-of-two's car veered off the road, smashing through a chain-link fence before crashing into parked cars at a nearby apartment parking lot
- Boughton's son provided CPR until an ambulance arrived and the baseball coach was rushed to North Memorial Health hospital where he later died
- The shooter sped off and remains at large
- Boughton leaves behind a wife, his son and a 13-year-old daughter
A youth baseball coach has been shot dead in a road rage attack in Minnesota while driving with his 15-year-old son who gave CPR until an ambulance arrived.
Jay Boughton was taking the boy home from a baseball game when the driver of another vehicle shot him in the head at around 10pm on Tuesday on Highway 169 in Plymouth.
His car veered off the road, smashing through a chain-link fence before crashing into parked cars at a nearby apartment parking lot.
Boughton's son provided CPR until an ambulance arrived and the baseball coach was rushed to North Memorial Health hospital where he later died.
The shooter is still at large after speeding off down the highway in a light-colored SUV, possibly a Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban or similar vehicle.
Boughton, an assistant coach for Armstrong-Cooper Youth Baseball Association, was described as 'wonderful person' who 'always had a smile' by his friends.
He leaves behind a wife, his son and a 13-year-old daughter.
Jay Boughton was taking his son home from a baseball game when the driver of another vehicle shot him in the head at around 10pm on Tuesday on Highway 169 in Plymouth
Police released surveillance footage of a light-colored vehicle, possibly a Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban or similar vehicle, whose driver is believed to have shot the father-of-two
Boughton's son was also treated in hospital after the crash but has since been discharged.
Police said there was a 'traffic related altercation' prior to the shooting which they described as a 'senseless act beyond understanding.'
Friends mourned Boughton on Wednesday as a 'pillar of the community' and dedicated father whose family were 'going to be hurting without him.'
Scot Cybyske told KSTP: 'Jay was a pillar of our baseball community. Always positive, always clapping. The boys could be down by 15 runs and he was encouraging individuals. Never raised his voice. Cool, calm, and collected.'
Another friend, Joe Higgins told the broadcaster: 'I've had friends die, but I've never had a friend murdered, and to have him die in that manner, just shocking. Hard to wrap your head around.'
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'So tragic. Couldn't believe it happened to such a wonderful person, in the manner it did,' Higgins added. 'Such a senseless crime. To not see him in the stands with us, the next time we're at a ball game, it's going to be hard.'
A close friend of Boughton's told CBS, he 'was just your typical all-American boy.'
'He grew up as a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout,' the friend said. 'He was a good father, good family man. He was involved, a very involved dad. His wife and kids, they’re just going to be hurting without him.”
Plymouth Police Chief Erik Fadden held back tears as he spoke at a press conference, saying: 'This was one of the most tragic events that I have witnessed in my 20 years in policing.
'It was truly a senseless act that resulted in the loss of a human life and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and those affected by this horrible event.'
The police released stills from a surveillance camera of the suspect's silver car
A still released by Plymouth police shows a silver car whose driver is suspected of shooting Boughton
ACYBA president Dale Bjerke said Boughton was an assistant coach with the 15UAAA team for the last three years and his son played in the league. Boughton was also active in youth soccer.
In a statement, ACYBA said: 'There have been numerous emails shared today about Jay and what a wonderful coach, parent and husband he was.
'Jay was the one of those guys who would do anything for anyone at any time and always with a smile. The ACYBA Board extends our deepest sympathies to the Boughton family and those who knew them.'
In a letter to families, Bjerke said that all of the 15UAAA games have been cancelled for the rest of the season.
Plymouth Police Department are still hunting for the shooter with the assistance of Minnesota State Patrol and Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.
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