Road rage incident ends in crash and shooting on Sunday morning

Published 10:02 am Sunday, March 31, 2024

(This story has been updated to reflect new information released by the sheriff’s office.)

ROWAN COUNTY — Law enforcement is investigating after a road rage incident on Interstate 85 ended in a crash and a shooting on Sunday.

Deputies responded to Interstate 85 in the area of mile marker 77 in reference to a vehicle crash and reported gunshots at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, according to a release from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. One of the callers reported that multiple vehicles were traveling south on the interstate at a high rate of speed when one of the occupants began shooting at the other vehicle.

When they arrived, detectives reportedly learned that four vehicles were involved in the incident and two of the vehicles had crashed. All of the occupants of those two vehicles had fled the scene, according to the release. All of the people who were directly involved were reportedly located and interviewed.

Detectives have determined that the incident stemmed from an argument that took place at a car meeting in the Greensboro or Winston-Salem area, according to the release. The sheriff’s office has stated that the incident is believed to be isolated and was not a random act of violence.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to the scene and investigated the crash, while the sheriff’s office investigated the shooting.

The sheriff’s office has asked anyone with information to contact Detective A. Palacios at 704-216-8685 or Detective Sergeant J. Thomason at 704-216-8687.

More information will be provided if it becomes available.