CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- The search is on for the man who pulled up next to a woman driving in Chesterfield and opened fire, wounding the driver and nearly hitting her passenger in the face.
Police said the driver was in the 2800 block of E. Hundred Road around 5:40 p.m. Thursday when a silver Nissan sedan pulled up on the passenger side of the car.
That is when the driver fired a single shot, according to police. The woman felt the bullet zip by her face and into the arm of a woman driving the car, Crime Insider Jon Burkett said.
Chesterfield Police said it was the end result of aggressive driving and believe the shooting was random.
“There were two vehicles involved in an incident on the road, which resulted in what we typically call a road rage incident,” an officer said. “And one occupant of one vehicle ended up firing rounds at the victim’s vehicle.”
Police described the suspect as a heavy-set Black man with a beard. He was last seen heading east on E. Hundred Road into Hopewell.
A man who said he lives through the woodline told Burkett he could hear the victim screaming.
Police said the woman suffered a gunshot wound to the arm and was taken to an area hospital. Her injuries were not life-threatening, according to police.
“We are looking for video evidence and tracking down leads," an officer said.
Police said the jockeying for position and brake checking happened before the confrontation at the intersection of Allied Drive and East Hundred Road.
Once the cars got through the intersection, Crime Insider sources said the man pulled alongside and pulled the trigger.
Officers are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crime to call police.
Police warned other drivers who may experience road rage to pull off the road to a safe location and call 911.
“Our pride sometimes will want us to retaliate even if it's a hand gesture,” an officer said. “But unfortunately, you never know who you’re running across... And in this incident, unfortunately, it escalated to where somebody was injured.”
Police urged anyone with information to contact the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660 or through the P3 app.
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip.
