INDIANAPOLIS — A road rage shooting in the heart of Fountain Square leaves one man hospitalized and another man in jail.
Around one o’clock mid-day on Sunday, at the intersection of Virginia and Shelby, witnesses claim the driver of a red Jeep, which had an Uber sticker in the windshield, pulled up next to the driver of a white pickup and opened fire. The gunfire shattered the truck's passenger window.
“We heard the gunshot and then we saw the window get busted out,” said witness Viviana Hickey to WIBC. “Then I called 911 and ran out there. The guy was bleeding.”
After suffering critical injuries in the shooting, the driver of the pickup sped forward but quickly crashed into another car.
According to court records, the suspect stayed on scene after the shooting and admitted he pulled the trigger.
Witnesses told police the suspect in the Jeep, Lekedrick Hughes, was driving aggressively and appeared to be arguing with the victim while the two sat at a stop light.
Unfortunately, police said road rage incidents like this have become all too common and they encourage everyone to stay calm behind the wheel.
“IMPD has seen an alarming rise in road rage shootings and incidents behind the wheel,” said IMPD officer Drew Brown.
While IMPD doesn't specifically track the number of road rage shootings, last year Indiana State Police began counting incidents of firearms being displayed on interstates and claimed there were 236 such crimes around Indianapolis in 2023 along with 56 shootings.
“We want to stress and emphasize that people make mistakes and we can't let those mistakes lead to violence,” said Brown.
IMPD says the shooting in Fountain Square is a reminder for people to avoid angry confrontations with other drivers.
“We just want to emphasize to drivers to take a breath and calm down. Get police on the way if you feel things escalating. There's no sense in a road rage incident escalating to violence,” said Brown.
While Hughes allegedly told officers on scene that he shot the victim, he did not elaborate when he was brought in for questioning.
Police said a handgun used in the shooting was recovered inside the suspect’s Jeep along with a loaded shotgun.
The suspect is facing a preliminary charge of battery with a deadly weapon.
Ultimately, it will be up to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office to file formal charges in the case.