Inset: Roy Anderson, Jr. (Jackson County, Missouri Department of Corrections). Background: The stretch of Interstate 70 where Anderson is accused of firing at another motorist during a road rage episode (KCTV).
A 53-year-old Missouri resident has been apprehended over claims that he brandished a firearm and discharged it into the passenger side of another vehicle. This incident reportedly occurred when the other driver denied him access to merge during heavy traffic.
Roy L. Anderson Jr. was arrested last week and is facing several charges, such as first-degree assault, armed criminal action, and weapon misuse, as per court records. A criminal complaint filed in Jackson County Circuit Court mentions that Kansas City Police Department officers responded to reports of a suspected road rage incident involving firearms around East Interstate 70 and East US 40 Highway at approximately 7:05 a.m. on Friday.
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Upon arriving at the scene, first responders said Anderson was waiting for them and holding a black 9 mm Smith & Wesson semiautomatic handgun “by the barrel” with the stock pointed outward to safely turn the weapon over. After handing the gun to police, Anderson explained he was driving his 2014 Lexus “when he thought he heard a gunshot.” He said he responded by taking out his own gun and firing a “shot into the air.”
Anderson clarified, initially claiming that he only heard a gunshot and did not see anyone else, including the victim, in possession of a firearm, per the complaint. However, Anderson quickly contradicted his statement, allegedly telling officers that “the other guy definitely had a gun.” He was then placed on an “investigative hold” until the department’s assault unit could take over. When detectives arrived, Anderson reportedly refused to provide a statement and requested an attorney.
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The victim told police he was driving east on I-70 and approaching a lane closure due to construction and was driving in a way that would “prevent vehicles from passing to merge at the last minute,” a tactic the victim said he used on a regular basis.
“As he was forced to merge back into the #2 lane, [the victim] was then struck with a soda can in the right arm/shoulder,” the complaint states. “[The victim] stated he was traveling at a very slow speed at this time and observed the suspect driving next to him. Anderson appeared to be yelling at him, but [the victim] could not hear due to the radio volume. [The victim] yelled, ‘What the f—’ and threw the soda can back at Anderson. As he threw the can, Anderson leaned back in his seat and held a firearm close to his chest in his right hand and fired one shot in [the victim’s] direction.”
The victim described the firearm, which police said matched the description of the Smith & Wesson in Anderson’s possession.
Despite Anderson claiming to have fired into the air, investigators at the scene said they found a bullet hole in the front passenger door of the victim’s car. A spent bullet casing was also recovered from inside Anderson’s vehicle.
Anderson was processed at the Jackson County Detention Center and released on Saturday after posting 10% of his $75,000 bond. A judge ordered him to have no contact with the victim or any witnesses to the alleged incident. He is also prohibited from possessing a firearm or occupying a residence in which a firearm is located.
Anderson is currently scheduled to appear in court again on June 11.
