Road rage on U.S. 95 leaves woman injured

An incident stemming from road rage Sunday evening on U.S. Highway 95 caused a woman to be hospitalized in critical condition with a gunshot wound and a man to be wanted in her shooting, Las Vegas police said.

According to police, the incident began about 6:30 p.m. Sunday when two vehicles were traveling south on U.S. 95 near Lake Mead Boulevard.

The suspect, who was driving a sport utility vehicle, eventually pulled a handgun and fired several rounds at two people in the other vehicle. A woman was hit by a bullet and taken to University Medical Center, where she was listed in critical but stable condition, police said.

The suspect's vehicle was described as a mid-1990s faded burgundy Jeep Cherokee with tinted windows. The suspect was described as a white or Hispanic male in his mid-20s, about 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 220 pounds with short brown spiked hair.

Buzz Woodward, father-in-law of the woman hit by the gunfire, identified her as Melissa C. Woodward, 29. He said she was riding in the car with her husband, 31-year-old Thomas Woodward, when their Saturn coupe was cut off by the Cherokee.

Buzz Woodward said his son became angry and cut off the Cherokee in retaliation. The drivers then began cursing at each other while driving, and both pulled over to the side of the highway. Buzz Woodward said his son got out of his car and approached the other vehicle when its driver wielded a gun and started shooting, hitting Melissa Woodward once. The bullet perforated her small intestine, nicked her colon, went through her kidney and became lodged in her back, Buzz Woodward said. He said his daughter-in-law has been in a lot of pain but is recovering.

After she was wounded, Woodward said, his son retrieved from the Saturn a handgun that legally belonged to Melissa Woodward, who works off and on as a security guard, and a gunbattle ensued.

Buzz Woodward and police said the Cherokee might have bullet holes in it and its rear window might be shattered by the gunfire.

Buzz Woodward said his son was not charged in the shooting because police deemed that he was protecting his wife in self-defense.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.