Man accused of pulling out gun in road rage incident while driving work van

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Audrain County man has been charged with a pair of felonies after he allegedly pulled out a gun during a road rage incident on Friday morning while driving through Columbia.

Jarrod Whelchel, of Mexico, Missouri, was charged in Boone County with unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. A warrant was requested on Friday and a $25,000 bond was requested.

According to the probable cause statement, the alleged victim spoke with police about a road rage that occurred on Highway 63 near the Interstate 70 exit before 8 a.m. The victim claimed that a man in a KRWS Electric Company vehicle was following him from Paris Road too close, the statement says. The victim then allegedly said they made “an obscene gesture,” the statement says.

The driver – later identified as Whelchel – then allegedly followed the victim until Whelchel drove up beside the victim and flashed a gun, court documents say. The victim said the gun was not pointed at him, court documents say.

Whelchel took the Interstate 70 exit from Highway 63 and the victim continued driving southbound on Highway 63, the statement says.

Police contacted KRWS Electric Company and interviewed Whelchel, who alleged that the victim was tailgating him before the victim “made an obscene gesture,” the statement says. Whelchel allegedly told police that he pulled out the gun to show that he was armed.

Whelchel told police that the gun was in the van and police found it in the vehicle, the statement says.