INDIANAPOLIS — Road rage incidents that escalate to gunfire are becoming all too common on interstates across Indianapolis.
The latest case happened this past weekend on Interstate 465, when an 18-year-old was sent to the hospital. That incident was the 43rd road rage shooting on Indianapolis interstates this year.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department does not track road rage incidents, but Indiana State Police say the 43 shootings so far in 2024 are closing in on the 55 recorded all of last year.
"None of us are perfect drivers. But I think oftentimes, people are taking mistakes as aggression, and they're expanding that to include road rage, hand gestures, cutting off, tailgating," ISP Sgt. John Perrine said. "All these things that just make people angry — and now, we're seeing gunfire."
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Police remind drivers that even flashing a gun or pointing a firearm at another driver could result in a felony intimidation charge.
State police have investigated more than 180 incidents on interstates this year where someone on the interstate displayed or pointed a gun at another driver.
"The biggest thing that helps us with these cases is eyewitnesses. People who see these incidents, whether they see the gunfire or not, any type of road rage that you see should be reported because those two drivers are engaged," Perrine said. "You might not see what it leads to two miles down the road, but information you have could be valuable to our case."
Dashcam video can also help prosecutors. Avoiding road rage is perhaps becoming the biggest lesson in learning to drive.
"My number one advice for young drivers right now is don't engage in any type of road rage," Perrine said. "If somebody does something to make you angry, take a deep breath and find a way to disengage. If you do something to make somebody else angry, find a way to disengage and take a deep breath."