Road Rage Incident Escalates to Shooting in Excelsior Springs, Suspect Arrested

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. (Sept. 12, 2024) – A road rage incident Thursday afternoon culminated in a shooting, according to the Excelsior Springs Police Department. The altercation, which began in the Walmart parking lot, led to an arrest later in the day.

Around 4:30 p.m., two vehicles sideswiped each other in the Walmart parking lot, causing minor damage to both cars’ mirrors. The driver of one vehicle left the scene, believing the damage was not serious. However, the suspect, driving a dark blue Chevrolet van with Ohio plates, became enraged and pursued the other driver northbound on Highway 69.

“At some point, [the suspect] got alongside the victim’s vehicle and started shooting his gun out the window,” said Excelsior Springs Police Lieutenant Ryan Dowdy. The suspect fired multiple shots from a 9mm handgun into the victim’s vehicle near Schwartz Road and Highway 69, close to the Excelsior Springs Animal Clinic. Though his car sustained damage, the victim was not struck. After firing several shots the suspect made an abbrupt u-turn and the victim sped away from the scene.

Recognizing the van from previous encounters, officers quickly began their search. Using recently installed License Plate Reader (LPR) cameras, police pulled images of the van, which had been spotted around town over the past couple of months.

The van was eventually located by Clay County Sheriff’s Deputies in the parking lot of the Corner Kitchen and General Store (26017 County Road RA, Kearney, MO) near Watkins Mill State Park, where the suspect surrendered peacefully. Although he initially denied any involvement, the suspect later confessed to the shooting and allowed officers to search his vehicle. The gun used in the incident was recovered.

The suspect remains in custody, and charges are expected to be filed Friday.

“We’re just glad we got him into custody safely and that no one was seriously injured or killed,” Dowdy added.