Woman Charged With Attempted Murder In Drink-Throwing, Gun-Shooting Road Rage Incident
MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ) - Authorities say a 36-year-old woman could end up spending the rest of her life in prison over a road rage incident that involved a hurled soft-drink and gunfire.
The situation unfolded around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday near Metropolitan Parkway and I-94 in Harrison Township -- but police say both drivers gave a different version of events.
According to the Sheriff's office, a 40-year-old Warren man called 911 to report that he was driving in the area of Reimold and Crocker when he "exchanged words" with a woman driving a Lexus -- later identified as India Marchea McDougal.
The man told police that both drivers advanced to a red light on Crocker at Metropolitan Parkway when he stopped alongside McDougal's SUV to confront her about her driving.
According to the man's version of events, he exited his 2003 Chevy pick-up truck, but remained on the driver's side of his vehicle. The two drivers exchanged words and when the verbal argument escalated, the man said he got back into his vehicle. He said he then reached over, unrolled the passenger side window of his truck and threw a soft-drink at the woman's car. At that point, the man said McDougal produced a gun and fired a round at his truck.
Meantime, the Sheriff's office received a 911 call from McDougal, who told dispatchers that she had been in an altercation and had fired her handgun. She waited at a convenience store on Harper, in Clinton Township, where she was interviewed by deputies.
Police said McDougal had a consistent version of events, except she said the man stopped at the red light, walked around his own vehicle and approached her SUV. As the man neared her car, McDougal said he had a Styrofoam cup in his hand and he threw liquid in her face. She further told police that she was "scared for her life" so she drew her handgun and fired a single shot.
Deputies located a Kel-Tec, 9mm Luger handgun in a pocket on the drivers-side door of McDougal's SUV. Investigators also observed a bullet hole through the passenger door of the man's truck, which had a shattered window, and were able to retrieve the bullet from the vehicle's arm-rest.
At that point, McDougal was arrested and transported to the Macomb County Jail. Records say she had a license to carry a concealed weapon.
On Wednesday, McDougal was video-arraigned in 41B District Court on charges of assault with intent to murder, felony firearm, and possession of a controlled substance less than 25 grams.
McDougal was ordered jailed on a $750,000 bond and is due back in court on Oct. 26.
Police say the man involved in the incident is also facing several misdemeanor charges. His name was not released.