Police investigating road rage shooting in northern Colorado Springs; victim shot in arm

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Springs police are investigating a road rage incident that happened early Friday morning on the north side of town.

According to police, it happened around 1 a.m., outside the Barnes and Noble near the intersection of Briargate Boulevard and North Academy Boulevard.

Police say that they don't know exactly where the incident started, or what led up to it; but they do know that the person who was shot pulled over to confront the other driver.

That driver then fired a gun at least five times, according to police.

The victim was shot in the arm; police say the injury was non-life threatening.

The other driver left the scene and is being sought by police.

Sgt. Troy Kessler, of the Colorado State Patrol, said that incidents of road rage and other aggressive driving habits are on an upward trend.

"In 2022, the most recent statistics we have available, we saw 58,000 calls total, 54% of which -- 32,000 -- were related to aggressive driving and road rage incidents," he said. "And that was up around 5% from 2021. So even those numbers there, support what we're seeing on the roadway."

Kessler said that road rage moods actually start even before a driver gets behind the wheel.

"We're talking about people's mental state," he explained. "And then, when you get two people maybe in a similar state, and maybe willing to get into some kind of confrontation, that's when you get into those road rage incidents."

A shopping area in the affluent Briargate area may seem to be an unlikely place for such violence, and it generated reaction from people who live, work and shop near the crime scene.

Amy Lauderbaugh: "It's very troubling to hear that, and road rage can happen anywhere. People are human beings, so it doesn't matter what socioeconomic level you're at. It's dangerous when the anger gets flaring."

Mekella Butterfield: "People have gotten a little bit more scary with their driving -- not as nice, a little more aggressive. So, I feel like I kind of maybe saw it coming. But I don't like it."

Enne Goss: "A guy passed me several years ago on a right hand turn lane, and he was super angry with me. But he was the one who did the wrong thing. So no, it didn't make me mad. It scared me."

Kessler said that anyone who is a victim of or feels threatened by an aggressive driver should take a deep breath and avoid a confrontation.

"Let it go," he advised. "Then report it to your local law enforcement office. Getting hurt or killed in a road rage incident just isn't worth it."