WASHINGTON TWP. — A 23-year-old man was hospitalized after he was shot on I-675 in Washington Twp. in what deputies are calling a road-rage shooting.
>>PHOTOS: Shooting on I-675 prompts large investigation Tuesday morning
The shooting happened around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday in the northbound lanes of I-675 between the Yankee Street and West Alex Bell Road exits.
The victim, only identified as the 23-year-old man, stopped his Scion car at an urgent care on Alex Bell Road near Far Hills Avenue before he was met by deputies and medics and later taken to a hospital for treatment,, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Mike Brem told News Center 7.
“The driver of the Scion pointed a pellet gun at the sedan who then fired a weapon toward the Scion, striking the driver in the leg,” deputies said.
The man was shot in his leg and his injuries are believed to be non-life threatening, Brem said.
“Somebody shot my boyfriend! He got shot in the leg I think. He can still drive, barely,” a woman who identified herself as the man’s boyfriend said in a 911 call obtained in a News Center 7 public records request.
“Someone shot us on the highway. You can see where the bullet went through the car and the bullet is in the seat on the driver’s side,” the 911 caller said. “Me and my boyfriend were fighting and some guy pulled a gun and all I heard was it hit the car, and go through the car and my boyfriend yelling.”
Preliminary investigation indicates the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident with only one shot fired, according to deputies.
“So right now, we think it’s a random road rage incident. They didn’t know — the two cars didn’t know each other — but like I said we’re still looking into that right now,” Brem said.
This browser does not support the video element.
No arrests have been made and deputies are still looking for more details about the suspect vehicle and suspected shooter. Deputies are looking for a silver, smaller car that the suspected shooter was traveling in.
The shooting investigation shut-down the northbound lanes for about an hour while deputies searched the highway for evidence and conducted their investigation. All northbound lanes reopened around 9:45 a.m.
“There’s a lot going on, a lot of traffic during that time. We know it’s frustrating, but it’s always a good idea to stay calm when you’re in traffic and not get into a road rage incident like this,” Brem said.
During the sheriff’s office investigation, deputies did recover one shell casing that matched up to a witness statement, Brem said.
If you witnessed the shooting or have more information for investigators you’re asked to contact the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center at 937-225-HELP.
Additional details were not released. We’ll update this story as we learn more.