MESA, AZ — An armed road rage suspect chased a victim in a car and on foot, police say.
Mesa police report that on March 23 Raymond Walter Shepard, age 53, was upset when he believed the victim cut him off while driving on US 60.
Shepard reportedly motioned for the victim to pull over and approached the victim’s car with a handgun in his waist.
The victim drove off after seeing the gun and Shepard followed in his vehicle, according to court records.
The victim stopped at a Lowe's parking lot near Ellsworth Road and Southern Avenue and ran.
Witness Travis Kelson provided ABC15 with cell phone video he says shows the moments Shepard held the victim.
ROAD RAGE? Valley man charged, accused of following another driver who he felt cut him off along the 60 and then holding him at gunpoint, per court docs. See the VIDEO of some of the tense moments ( Courtesy Travis Kelson ) @abc15 at 10p pic.twitter.com/5USnkGRhMd
— Mike Pelton (@MikePeltonABC15) March 29, 2019
"I was just trying to talk him down and keep him calm," Kelson said.
Kelson told ABC15 he noticed when the altercation first started spilling into the parking lot.
"He jumped out of his vehicle and pointed the gun at him immediately," Kelson said."(He) started cursing at him about driving and cutting him off."
Kelson says he tried to diffuse the situation, telling the armed man to take his finger off the trigger.
"He's the one that told me to call police, which I did, and he ended up getting himself arrested," Kelson said. "I mean he absolutely, one-hundred-percent felt he was in the right and was doing nothing wrong."
When questioned by police, Shepard allegedly said he believed the victim damaged his vehicle. He also said he didn't call the police initially because he thought they would just let the victim get away.
Police say an inspection of Shepard's vehicle revealed no damage.
Shepard has been charged with aggravated assault.
