Road rage shooting deemed self-defense, Fort Worth police say

FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth authorities have determined a road rage shooting that left a motorcyclist dead was an act of self-defense.

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According to police, the confrontation occurred Friday after a near collision on the freeway, caused by the motorcyclist driving between lanes on the center of the white line. The driver of a sport utility vehicle changing lanes did not see the motorcyclist, prompting the latter to park in the road - blocking traffic - and walk toward the SUV driver with his gun drawn, KDFW reported.

The SUV driver told police that he told the man pointing the gun at his vehicle that he had children in the car, but the motorcyclist seemed unfazed. That’s when the SUV driver said that he shot the motorcyclist multiple times because he feared for his and his passengers’ safety, WFAA reported.

JaDerek Gray, 19, was pronounced dead at an area hospital a short while following the shooting, police confirmed to KDFW.

Motorist Isel Valenzuela told the TV station that a green motorcycle sped past him about 15 seconds before he heard four gunshots.

“I look over and I see (Gray) laying there with blood all on his chest and his stomach,” Valenzuela told KDFW, noting that when he parked and ran over to help he also saw the green motorcycle parked on the freeway with the kickstand down about 30 feet behind Gray.

“I turned off the bike because it was still running,” he added.

Fort Worth Officer Tracy Carter told the TV station that investigators believe Gray also fired his weapon but did not hit anyone.

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