*I kid you not*: Road Rage turns into drive-by crossbow shooting (only in AR)

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ^ | 17 OCT 06 | dcbryan1

[DCBryan1]

Road rage builds on I-630 until arrow hits Camaro

Road rage took a decidedly medieval turn Sunday when a Little Rock man was arrested after police said he attempted to settle a traffic dispute with a crossbow.

Police said Wayne Allen Dierks Jr., 26, of 300 Walnut St. in Little Rock fired a crossbow at a motorist who had made an obscene gesture at him. Dierks was charged with committing a terroristic act, possession of an instrument of crime, driving while intoxicated and driving on a suspended driver’s license.

“It was a drive-by crossbow shooting,” said Steve Gilgenbach, a University of Arkansas Little Rock student who was driving the Camaro police said Dierks shot at. “I’ve never been shot at by a crossbow before.”

Gilgenbach, a pitcher on the UALR baseball team, said he was on his way to his west Little Rock apartment after practice and was pulling onto Interstate 630 at Fair Park Boulevard when the trouble began.

“I was merging on the highway and I had to get in, so I cut the guy off,” Gilgenbach admitted. “He started following me, cursing at me and yelling for me to pull over.”

According to a police report, Gilgenbach admitted he had made an obscene gesture at Dierks, who was driving a Ford Explorer. On Monday, though, Gilgenbach said he couldn’t remember gesturing at Dierks.

The pursuit continued for several miles to the end of Interstate 630 and onto Financial Centre Parkway. “We stopped at several stoplights and he was trying to get me to stop because he wanted to fight me,” Gilgenbach said.

As the two drivers neared the Bowman Road intersection, Dierks made the next move.

[TChris]

Dierks was charged with committing a terroristic act...

Puh-LEEZE!

Too frequent use of a word renders it meaningless. Please drop the trendy idea that every little criminal act is "terrorism."

[AnalogReigns]

"As the two drivers neared the Bowman Road intersection...

Oh brother....

[ErnBatavia]

It's probably like California's legalese lingo...I was on a jury a few months ago (attempted murder), and one of the charges was "making terrorist threats"...because the perp had of course said "I'm going to kill you", before he emptied his .45 at his target (and missed)

[rlmorel]

If I hear banjo music, I am outta here.

[Charles Martel]

“I was merging on the highway and I had to get in, so I cut the guy off,” Gilgenbach admitted.

Ah, but since Mr. Failure To Yield was the "victim" of road rage, he probably didn't get a ticket - or even a stern warning.

[doesnt suffer fools gladly]

I recall there was a murder by crossbow on I-495 in Massachusetts some10 years or so ago, same reason.

I remember that. He killed the guy. The killer was an older man, if I recall correctly.

[Fresh Wind]

Did the guy with the crossbow have a Dodge Charger with a Confederate flag on the roof?

[Rb ver. 2.0]

“I was merging on the highway and I had to get in, so I cut the guy off,”

*That* is exactly the way one is supposed merge onto a highway.

[bolobaby]

I agree the guy needs to go to jail, but I am a bit disturbed by the charge of a "terroristic act". I mean, surely ANY act of agression could be said to cause "terror", but his purpose here wasn't to "terrorize" the populace, it was just to get back at someone who "terrorized" him with an obscene gesture.

Agreed. This is just like the fruitcakes who want to make certain crimes "hate crimes" in addition to whatever else the crime may be. That's a foolish abuse of the statutes.

[ansel12]

"You mean you have a list???"



So far my list is rocks, bottles, bullets, and long bow, the arrow incident happened in Albuquerque.

[Tax-chick]

Anoreth's taking driver's ed this week. We've been discussion self-control and how it relates to driving for some time! Middle fingers are not something we do (in fact, my 6-year-old just learned about that from a friend who started public school. GAH!).

However, I'm concerned about the possibilities if Anoreth discovers the *horn*!

[CommandoFrank]

He was just trying to make a point...

[Atlas Sneezed]

Dierks was charged with committing a terroristic act...

---

This is the creepy part of the story.

[Just another Joe]

In order to go truly medieval mount a trebuchet on your car!!!!

Don't you mean mount the OTHER guys car on your trebuchet?

[monday]

"but his purpose here wasn't to "terrorize" the populace, it was just to get back at someone who "terrorized" him with an obscene gesture."

lol... your priorities are all screwed up. What is more terrorizing, chasing, trying to run someone off the road, and honking your horn trying to get them to stop so you can fight them, and shooting at them with a cross bow? or an obscene gesture? People with road rage terrorize everyone they share the road with. I think the charge of 'terroristic act' is perfectly appropriate.

[TexasRepublic]

When crowbows are outlawed, only outlaws will have crossbows.

[monday]

"*That* is exactly the way one is supposed merge onto a highway."

Well, it is better than stopping on the on ramp, but best would be to drive a car that goes when you step on the throttle, so that you can get up to speed fast enough to avoid cutting off anyone. People who drive underpowered economy cars, and the very old and timid, should not be allowed on the freeway during rush hours. They are a traffic hazard.

[popdonnelly]

I didn't know they had such advanced weapons in Arkansas.

[BfloGuy]

Please drop the trendy idea that every little criminal act is "terrorism."

And that actual acts of terrorism (shooting up the El Al counter at LAX for example) aren't.

[BfloGuy]

Please drop the trendy idea that every little criminal act is "terrorism."

And that actual acts of terrorism (shooting up the El Al counter at LAX for example) aren't.