Friday, May 8, 2020 | 1:02 a.m.
A gunman is dead in an apparent self-defense shooting near Interstate 15 and Russell Road, which stemmed from a purported road rage incident, according to Metro Police.
This was the second road-rage-related slaying reported in the valley Thursday night.
Two vehicles were heading south on the freeway about 8 p.m. when someone was cut off, prompting a motorist to flash a gun and follow a vehicle.
The vehicles exited on Russell Road and came to a stop at a red light. There, the gunman exited his vehicle, walked toward the motorist, and pointed his gun at him, Lt. Ray Spencer said late Thursday.
The motorist who’d been followed pulled out his own gun and opened fire, before driving away, Spencer said. The apparent aggressor was shot and and returned to his vehicle, where he died.
A witness called 911, Spencer said.
Moments later, the shooter returned to the scene, approached an officer and turned himself in, Spencer said. He admitted to the shooting but didn’t know he’d struck the road rage suspect, who was only identified as a white man in his early 20s, Spencer said.
Initial witness interviews and the shooter’s account appeared to match evidence at the scene, Spencer said. The case was to be forwarded to the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, which will determine if the killing was in self-defense.
No arrests were expected Friday, Spencer said.
When dealing with a road rage incident, Spencer said motorists should “take a breath and try to separate yourself from anyone who’s causing (trouble).”
Driving can be stressful, Spencer said, and motorists should try to give space and time to the other person to calm down, which the shooter apparently did.
The shooter was “shaken up,” the lieutenant said.
About three hours earlier and on the same freeway, two pickup trucks involved in a similar incident exited at Jean and ended up at a Nevada Highway Patrol substation about 30 miles south of Las Vegas.
The man following a Dodge Ram got out of his Ford F-150, brandished a gun and was fatally shot by two troopers who’d heard the commotion and walked outside, the patrol said.
