Bullet narrowly misses child in apparent road-rage shooting in Hagerstown

October 31, 2008

Two gunshots fired at a car Wednesday evening in the 500 block of Mitchell Avenue near the railroad underpass narrowly missed a toddler in a child safety seat, Hagerstown City Police said in a press release.

The driver and passenger were also uninjured in the 7:13 p.m. incident, police said.

Police said an unknown subject shot at the victim's car twice, striking the driver's side door as a result of what appears to be a road rage incident.

One round penetrated the door and back seat, narrowly missing a 17-month-old child in a child safety seat on the rear passenger side of the vehicle.

Prior to the shooting the victim was driving eastbound on West Irvin Avenue from Wayne Avenue when the suspect vehicle approached from behind and began tailgating them, police said.

The suspect then passed them and stopped on Pennsylvania Avenue for traffic, at which time the victim's passenger exited and verbally confronted the driver.

The suspect driver sped away, south on Pennsylvania Avenue, passing vehicles on the double yellow line, police said.

The victim chased after the suspect in an attempt to get a tag number. The suspect turned onto Mitchell Avenue, drove under the railroad underpass, stopped and waited for the victim, police said.

The victim drove under the underpass and stopped a short distance from the suspect vehicle. The suspect then fired two shots from the driver's seat, police said. The suspect vehicle fled again and again the victim pursued it, following the car to the area of Bryan Place in the West End of Hagerstown where contact was lost.

Officers canvassed the area and were unable to locate the suspect vehicle described as a black, newer model sedan style car with round taillights and fog lights to the front. The only other description provided was the vehicle had a chrome strip across the trunk and possibly Maryland tags.

Police are asking anyone with information on this incident to contact the Hagerstown City Police at 301-790-3700.Â

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