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The two vehicles whose drivers died after a road rage fueled shootout Wednesday, Sept. 18 in Ionia (AP Photo/The Sentinel-Standard, Karen Bota)

Robert Taylor (left) and James Pullum

IONIA, MI - Surveillance video capturing the moments preceding a road rage-related shootout that killed two men indicates one driver followed closely behind the other, according to a police report.

Family members in the car with Jim Pullum, 43, said another driver, Robert Taylor, 56, tailed their vehicle for no apparent reason the night of the Sept. 18 shooting in Ionia. Taylor followed Pullum into the parking lot of Wonder Wand Car Wash, 426 S. Steele St., where the men exchanged gunfire, police said.

Before they reached the car wash, surveillance footage from Schanski Dodge off South State Road shows Pullum's Ford Taurus drove north past the business and Taylor followed five seconds behind in a Chrysler PT Cruiser.

When the vehicles passed Sheri's Restaurant, about 160 feet north of Schanski Dodge on South State Road, Taylor's car was three seconds behind, according to the police report.

Pullum's wife, Teri Pullum, who was in the car along with his mother, told police they had planned to stop at the car wash. About 120 feet away, her husband said a vehicle behind them "needed to get off his ass."

Teri Pullum told police Taylor's vehicle was so close they couldn't see its bumper. Her husband didn't react with any communication, such as hand gestures or tapping on the brakes, she said. They didn't know why Taylor was tailgating and there hadn't been any signs of a problem, she said.

Pullum pulled his vehicle into the car wash parking lot, and Taylor's vehicle pulled beside them. Both drivers stepped out, police said.

Teri Pullum told police she heard her husband tell Taylor he needed to "stay off his ass." The two men were nose-to-nose as they exchanged words, but she couldn't make out their conversation. One man pushed the other and she saw Taylor pull out a handgun and shoot her husband at "almost point blank range," the police report states. A medical examiner's autopsy confirmed that Pullum was shot from close range, the 50-page police report shows.

Interviews with Pullum's wife and mother, Bernadine Pullum - who were both seated in the car at that point - indicate Pullum reached in his car for a handgun after he was shot. Pullum fired as Taylor ran toward the back of his car, according to the police report. The women were the only witnesses to the shooting.

Autopsies showed Taylor was struck once with a bullet to the chest, and Pullum suffered three gunshot wounds to the arm, abdomen and shoulder.

Both men had permits to carry concealed weapons. Taylor was carrying a .22 Magnum and Pullum had a 9 mm handgun, police said.

An auctioneer who contacted police after the incident said Taylor called him in April, identifying himself as "RC Taylor" and saying he wanted to get rid of some of his guns "due to his condition," which was not elaborated on. The auctioneer told police that Taylor, during a lengthy conversation, "carried on about the militia, the NRA, and conspiracies reference governmental gun control," according to the report.

The auctioneer told police he contacted Taylor in May in regard to an auction and Taylor couldn't recall their previous conversation.

Officers located a bag of about nine medications that treat depression, anxiety and insomnia in Taylor's car. Authorities asked his wife about his health, and she said he had been doing "pretty well" and his mental health was "good." Taylor's wife said his psychiatrist was surprised to hear of his involvement in the incident.

Police have submitted for blood toxicology results for both men. The police report does not indicate authorities have received those results.

Angie Jackson covers public safety and breaking news for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email her at ajackso3@mlive.com, and follow her on Twitter.