Centralia Police are investigating an incident of ‘road rage’ on Friday night where a single gunshot was fired into the side of a vehicle.
Police say the incident unfolded at 2nd and Marquis where the alleged victim had gone around a vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. The alleged victim had to partially run off the road to get around the stopped vehicle and words were exchanged with a backseat passenger who waved a gun.
The alleged victim reportedly drove around the block before confronting those in the suspect vehicle and one gunshot was fired into an area behind the driver’s side door. The alleged victim then followed the suspect vehicle, with the two passengers eventually getting out and running from the area. The alleged victim continued to follow the vehicle to an apartment complex in the 1300 block of Frazier Street.
After the police arrived, they made contact with the driver of the suspect vehicle and towed it to the police department. A search warrant was later executed and a search for evidence was completed by the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigation unit. The driver was later released without being charged.
The alleged victim’s vehicle was also searched for evidence.
Centralia Police Operations Lieutenant Steve Whritenour says they have strong leads on the person who allegedly fired the gunshot but so far, no arrest has been made. He is thanking Central City Police for their assistance in finding the shell casing near the scene where the shop was fired and Illinois State Police for their assistance in the investigation.
