Road Rage Shooting Leaves One Injured and Bystander Hospitalized
A road rage incident in Hall County, Georgia left one man injured and an innocent bystander hospitalized after a driver opened fire on the road. Michael Gabriel, who survived the shooting, sustained minor injuries after being shot once in the shoulder and once in the lower back. His SUV still bears bullet holes, including one in the driver’s headrest. Meanwhile, a 65-year-old woman, Paula Blackwell, is in critical condition after being hit by one of the assailant’s bullets.
According to Gabriel’s account, he was on his way to a doctor’s appointment on SR 365 in Gainesville when a driver in a Mustang brake-checked him. Gabriel says he then went around the driver and looked at him, “What are you thinking?” Shortly after, he recalls hearing three gunshots, one of which hit him in the shoulder. Despite the scare, Gabriel pulled out his phone, recorded the incident, and raced to catch up with the Mustang’s driver to get his license plate number.
Unfortunately, Gabriel dropped his phone after hearing nine more shots hit his car near YMCA Drive and SR 365. Consequently, the police responded to the 911 calls that followed and arrested the driver, identified as 26-year-old Steven Cooper. Gainesville police say Cooper had a two-year-old child in the vehicle with him during the shooting.
Cooper remains in jail and faces several charges. Meanwhile, Gabriel expresses his gratitude for surviving the ordeal, stating, “It took a serious hand to God to keep me alive and here today.” However, he also emphasizes that the incident is not an isolated one, and the outcome is not worth the risk, saying, “If someone makes you mad, wave at them and say a prayer for them.”
Road rage incidents remain a common occurrence in the United States, with more than 80% of drivers admitting to experiencing significant anger or aggression while driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, road rage incidents result in approximately 1,500 injuries, 218 fatalities, and thousands of other incidents that go unreported each year. To avoid becoming a victim, drivers must exercise patience, stay calm, and avoid engaging with aggressive drivers. If the situation persists, pull over, report the incident to the police, and provide a detailed description of the assailant and their vehicle.
