A 64-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly firing a revolver at another driver’s car during a road rage encounter on the outbound Dan Ryan Expressway.
Ronald Willis was apprehended after investigators recognized his vehicle as the one observed following the victim’s vehicle at about 5:11 a.m. on September 29 near 31st Street, according to the detention petition.
Illinois State Police troopers responded to reports of shooting on the outgoing Dan Ryan that morning and spoke with a 26-year-old man who claimed he heard two gunshots before something hit the back of his Chevrolet Malibu. He informed police that a red SUV stopped beside his car, with the driver blowing the horn and waving madly before firing again from the passenger side. Prosecutors say one bullet hit the Malibu’s right rear taillight.
According to the police report, the victim followed the SUV while calling 911, but dispatchers told him to cease pursuing the vehicle. He pulled over around 57th Street and waited for police to arrive.
Investigators used license plate reader data to identify Willis’ red SUV as being closely behind the victim’s automobile prior to the shooting. Willis was caught during a traffic stop near his home.
Willis allegedly acknowledged to discharging the gun on the freeway, telling police that the other car had repeatedly cut him off and that he fired two shots into the air out of fear for his life. According to the report, he then drew beside the automobile and fired another round skyward to “scare” the other motorist, with no intention of killing him.
During a court-authorized search of Willis’ residence, police allegedly discovered the handgun. Willis was ordered detained by Judge Ankur Srivastava on charges of aggravated firing of a handgun toward an inhabited car.
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