Fulton man accused in south Columbia road rage incident

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia police arrested a Fulton man Tuesday after a report of shots fired in a busy commercial area.

Arnold R. Phillips, 77, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault, unlawful gun use and armed criminal action.

The Columbia Police Department says in a news release that one vehicle was hit by a bullet but no one was injured.

The incident happened in the 1200 block of Grindstone Parkway, near a shopping center that includes Walmart and Goodwill stores.

Columbia Police Department spokesman Brian McNeill wrote in an email that officers found evidence of shots being fired and property damage, though no injuries have been reported. Another person was detained at the scene, but was let go around 4:15 p.m.

Five CPD cruisers were at the scene and at least two vehicles were pulled over.

This marks the second publicly reported road rage arrest in Columbia this week, after police say, 19-year-old Denver Thai nearly crashed into another driver while pulling into a Columbia parking garage, then allegedly pointed a gun and shouted at the man before he drove away.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, since 2019, an average of 373 drivers have died in road rage incidents each year. Many of these incidents have been the result of gun violence, with road rage resulting in an average of 601 incidents of gun violence per year since 2020. 

The Missouri State Highway Patrol tells ABC 17 News that these types of incidents are uncommon. So far this year, Mid-Missouri has already seen several notable road rage incidents, which include a deadly shooting at a Columbia McDonald’s, where 32-year-old Derek Gonzalez was killed. 

Other incidents of note include: 

• March 17 – Columbia: Richard McDonald, 62, was charged in two separate road rage cases where he allegedly brandished a gun while driving aggressively in Columbia and on Interstate 70.
• March 19 – Columbia: Jarrod Whelchel of Mexico, was charged after allegedly flashing a gun at another driver on Highway 63 during a road rage altercation.
• June 24 – Columbia: Jadon Gooldy, 20, received probation after admitting to firing a gun during a road rage incident in april, one of two felony weapons cases tied to him this year.
• Aug. 27 – Saline County: Mason Mayhew, of Boonville, was charged after allegedly firing shots from a Nissan at another vehicle on I-70, causing a crash that injured multiple people.

The Department of Motor Vehicles advises drivers to defuse road rage by keeping plenty of space between vehicles, avoiding obscene gestures and pulling over to a safe location if you feel threatened.