WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. — A man is facing felony charges after police said he shot a BB gun at another driver Wednesday night while on North Laclede Station Road in Webster Groves.
The Bel-Ridge man, 27-year-old Tyree Goolsby, was charged with first-degree harassment, second-degree property damage, and armed criminal action in connection with the June 19 incident.
According to the Webster Groves Police Department, a driver called police at about 10 p.m. to report a road rage incident. Officers responded a minute later.
The road rage shooting left the victim unsettled and worried his life was in danger.
"The victim was scared. He feared for his life. Absolutely. There was no way that he would have known that that was a BB gun," said Lt. Jillian McCoy, spokesperson for the Webster Groves Police Department.
The driver told police he was driving on North Laclede Station Road heading towards Newport Avenue when a black Jeep Cherokee in the right lane started inching closer to him and then swerved into his lane.
"The victim honked his horn to alert him, 'Hey, you're coming into my lane.' At that time, he slowed down to allow the suspect to pass him," McCoy said.
The driver said Goolsby rolled down his window, pulled out a handgun, and shot twice at his car, shattering the rear passenger window.
Police used traffic cameras to track down the vehicle and Goolsby at his home.
"We did have officers in the area at the time; we have something called the FLOCK camera system that we use. So through investigation, we were able to identify the suspect driver within minutes," McCoy said.
While executing a search warrant at Goolsby's home, police found a black BB handgun.
Officers' quick response helped solve this case within minutes, McCoy said.
"There were only a few minutes in between the time of the incident and the time of contact with the suspect. I can't say how proud I am of our law enforcement officers. They were out there doing their job. They were patrolling the streets happened to be in the right place at the right time. The great investigative skills there really showed," McCoy said.
As for Goolsby's charges in this shooting, McCoy said, "The biggest message here is that whether it's a handgun or a BB gun, it's going to be handled as if it were a handgun. And it should be."
McCoy said there are several helpful tips on how to handle a road rage situation if you ever find yourself in one.
"Make sure that you can get to a local police department and drive directly there," she said. "If that's not an option, and it is at it during the nighttime hours, make sure that you pull over in a well-lit area and call 911 immediately. If this kind of situation happens and there's yelling or screaming coming from another vehicle, do not engage with that individual."
Goolsby was charged on Thursday and taken into custody. A judge set his bond at $50,000, cash only.
No one was physically injured during the incident.
To watch 5 On Your Side broadcasts or reports 24/7, 5 On Your Side is always streaming on 5+. Download for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV or the Apple TV app store.