Wildomar Man, 37, Accused Of Attempted Murder In Road Rage Shooting
LAKE ELSINORE (CBS) — Officials say a Wildomar man allegedly shot a motorist in the chest during a road rage incident on Ortega Highway, a sheriff's sergeant said Saturday.
Michael Economides, 37, was booked Friday night for suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a firearm. He was jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.
Economides is suspected of firing a single shot at the unidentified motorist when they both pulled over the shoulder of the highway two miles west of Grand Avenue, Riverside County Sheriff's Sgt. Todd Pauling said.
The motorist and a passenger from his vehicle both reportedly approached Economides as he sat in his car, Pauling said.
Pauling said, the alleged shooter fled the scene but was later found in a school parking lot on Grand Avenue. The victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment of his injury, Pauling said.
Ortega Highway, state Route 74, is a twisting, mountainous route with few passing areas and frequent long lines of heavy traffic. It is the only direct vehicular route between southwest Riverside and southern Orange counties.
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