Authorities are working to identify a driver who allegedly shot a woman during rush hour traffic, according to a report provided to The Dallas Express by Grapevine police.
At 7:15 a.m. on Friday, a 27-year-old woman was merging from Bass Pro Drive onto the southbound lanes of SH-121, also known as Airport Freeway. She became involved in a road rage incident with another driver.
The suspect was driving a dark gray, newer-model Mazda CX-9 SUV. He shot at the victim with a “small pistol” and the bullet “went through the woman’s neck,” according to Grapevine police. She pulled over to a shoulder lane for safety, but the man who fired the shot sped away from the scene.
The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and paramedics transported her to the hospital.
Police say witnesses described the shooter as a white man with brown hair.
The Grapevine Police Department also provided The Dallas Express with a statement asking the public to help apprehend the suspect.
“Detectives are working to locate any surveillance videos in the area that may have captured the suspect’s license plate or other identifying information. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Grapevine Police at: 817-410-3900.”
According to a Texas Department of Insurance study, 80% of Texas drivers report feeling “serious aggression, anger, or road rage at least once a year.”
The Texas Department of Insurance study also outlines key causes of the road rage phenomenon.
“The regular pressure of everyday life – work, relationships, time constraints, and finances — can take a toll on people, even those with normally good anger management skills. Add the stress of driving on a busy road, and sometimes a situation as simple as a vehicle traveling under the posted speed limit can trigger aggressive driving. Driving is dangerous, and because it is dangerous, it creates tension. Drivers’ heart rates often increase, and muscles tighten. Stress makes drivers primed for feeling strong emotions, like anger, when provoked.”
Texas is one of the deadliest states for drivers in the United States, one potential reason for elevated stress on DFW roads. Texas suffered 3,349 fatalities on the road in 2022, a slight increase from 2021.
Violent crimes such as this latest shooting remain high in the metroplex as well, with homicide and non-negligent manslaughter up more than 29.8% year-over-year in Dallas, according to the City of Dallas Open Data crime analytics dashboard.