Nevada boy shot dead during road rage incident while heading to school
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According to police, an 11-year-old boy in Nevada died when two drivers got into a traffic fight on his way to school and one of them shot at the other vehicle.
The road rage incident began around 7:30 a.m. local time when a driver tried to pass another vehicle, Henderson Police Chief Reggie Rader told reporters Friday.
This allegedly led to a verbal argument, at which point the 22-year-old suspect allegedly fired a single shot at the other vehicle, hitting the child. The driver of the vehicle with the 11-year-old passenger then crashed into the suspect’s car, causing the suspect to stop in the middle of the highway, according to Rader. Allegedly, the drivers then got out of their vehicles and got into a heated argument.
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Tyler Matthew Johns, 22, is accused of fatally shooting an 11-year-old boy during a road rage incident in Nevada. (Henderson Police Department)
The suspect, whose name was identified as Tyler Matthew Johns, was arrested for open murder and firing a firearm into an occupied vehicle.
Rader determined that the driver of the car in which the 11-year-old victim was found was the child’s stepfather. He also said Johns was alone in his vehicle.
Despite the best efforts of first responders and medical workers, the 11-year-old boy died from his injuries, the police chief said.
Henderson Police Chief Reggie Rader briefed the media after an 11-year-old boy was killed in a traffic fight. (Henderson Police Department)
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Rader and the police department are urging the public to “do better” and not let traffic get the best of them, especially as the holiday season approaches.
“I want to remind everyone today that we lost a life that we shouldn’t have lost. An 11-year-old boy was going to school, and this senseless act cost him his life,” Rader said at Friday’s press conference. “I want everyone to be patient on our roads. We have an obligation to look out for each other.”
This file image shows police units responding to the scene of the emergency. (Getty Images)
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“Holidays are approaching and we often have traffic jams and anger is high. It is not worth engaging in this type of behavior,” he added. “I’d rather you get stuck in traffic and be late for your destination than have to go to a loved one’s funeral or possibly spend the rest of your life in jail.”
Following the tragic incident, Rader urged everyone to “appreciate the sanctity of life.”
