Road Rage Incident in San Antonio...

[GalaxyFE]

Not sure if this was posted yet, if it was then my apologies. At least now there is one less idiot driver out there!

One question though; Why did the ME rule it a homicide? Sounds like crap to me.

Road rage turns fatal
Moises Mendoza
Express-News

San Antonio's first violent death of 2008 occurred just an hour after revelers rang in the new year when a motorist shot a driver who threatened him with a baseball bat in an apparent road-rage incident.

Tuesday morning's shooting death on the Northwest Side came on the heels of a particularly violent year for the city. In 2007, the city recorded 127 homicides, the most for one year in more than a decade.

Because the shooting appeared to be in self-defense, however, police said they didn't plan to charge Brian Correa, 24, who shot the 24-year-old driver three times with a handgun, according to a police report.

The Bexar County medical examiner's office identified the deceased driver as Tomas Garza.

Police also weren't classifying the death as a homicide although the medical examiner did, said police spokesman Sgt. Gabe Trevino.

“It was apparent to us that he was defending himself,� Trevino said, adding that the shooter had a license to carry a concealed weapon.

According to Correa and several witnesses quoted in the report, Tuesday's incident began when Garza maneuvered his Mitsubishi Lancer behind Correa's 2002 Chevrolet Camaro around 1 a.m. and began driving aggressively and trying to hit the Camaro.

When the cars came to a stop at a traffic light at Huebner and Fredericksburg roads, Garza got out and hit the Camaro several times with the bat, according to the police report.

After Correa told Garza to stop, Garza began advancing toward him and Correa fired three times with the handgun, according to the report.

Witnesses corroborated Correa's account with police.

“I'm still really shaken up. I don't really want to talk about it at all,� Correa told a reporter when contacted at his home Tuesday afternoon.

Trevino said police were concerned about the increase in homicides in 2007 and that one of the department's New Year's resolutions is to reduce that rate.

“The chief would tell you that he was disappointed with our homicide numbers,� Trevino said. “We would like to see those numbers decrease. One is too many. But we would like to see those decrease.�

[nitrogen]

Homicide doesn't necessarily mean murder.
All it means is that a human being was killed by another human being.

On another note, what the heck is it with Road Rage in Texas? I've NEVER lived in another state where i've seen so much. I've seen 10x the road rage since I moved here in '05 than anywhere else I lived, including Phoenix, SF Bay Area, as well as the NY metro area.

[neal6325]

The coroner is just differentiating between accidental, natural cause or homicide. Labeling it a homocide just defines the manner in which the individual died. The Police investigate and the DA will determine if the death was justifiable or not and whether to press charges.

[GalaxyFE]

I guess I can understand the ME's ruling then. The road rage here is out of control...I am from Atlanta and although the traffic is just as bad, at least they signal when they cut you off! San Antonio is horrible!

[srothstein]

“I'm still really shaken up. I don't really want to talk about it at all,� Correa told a reporter when contacted at his home Tuesday afternoon.

Finally, a person who knows how to answer the media properly.
To me, seeing this was the best part of the whole story.

[anygunanywhere]

Homicide doesn't necessarily mean murder.
All it means is that a human being was killed by another human being.

On another note, what the heck is it with Road Rage in Texas? I've NEVER lived in another state where i've seen so much. I've seen 10x the road rage since I moved here in '05 than anywhere else I lived, including Phoenix, SF Bay Area, as well as the NY metro area.

Nitrogen,

Texas has a bunch, but I lived in SF Bay Area as well and it is much worse. LA is worse than the SFBA.

Anygun

[seamusTX]

Road rage is not a defined crime and no one keeps accurate statistics on it. It can range from shaking fists and yelling all the way to intentionally causing wrecks and murder.

FWIW, I thought it was much worse in the city of Chicago than in Texas, but I spent a lot more time behind the wheel there.

Here are some self-reported statistics. They look pretty random to me. The number of incidents in big cities probably reflects the population and traffic density:
http://www.monkeymeter.com/citystats.php

- Jim

[Venus Pax]

On another note, what the heck is it with Road Rage in Texas? I've NEVER lived in another state where i've seen so much. I've seen 10x the road rage since I moved here in '05 than anywhere else I lived, including Phoenix, SF Bay Area, as well as the NY metro area.

I think people, especially from out of state, still think of Texas as being rural, despite the fact that most Texas residents live in metropolitan areas. I'm guessing that most people aren't expecting traffic jams; therefore, they don't prepare for them mentally.

The heat may have something to do with it. When I was a child, I remember the police officers (Mom worked at a police station at the time) were always commenting about the violent offenses occurring more during hot weather. I guess when people are irritable already (from the heat, a hard day, etc.), it doesn't take as much to set them off.

[neal6325]

Having lived 7 years in San Diego and 6 in Chicago...yes, I am glad to be back in TEXAS where I can PROUDLY own a firearm and not be rediculed for believing in the 2nd ammendment, I found the road rage to be much worse in both places. Personal observation and not based in anything factual I believe there are more violent accidents in Houston as the traffic moves faster on the highway.....just an observation however and cannot support with facts.

[tbranch]

According to Correa and several witnesses quoted in the report, Tuesday's incident began when Garza maneuvered his Mitsubishi Lancer behind Correa's 2002 Chevrolet Camaro around 1 a.m. and began driving aggressively and trying to hit the Camaro.

I wonder if there was an incident prior to this? It seems odd that the Camaro and driver would be chosen at random. Of course, my spouse always says, "friends don't let friends drive Chevys."

Tom

[BradGroux]

While I know there is road rage in Houston I believe I can say whole-heartedly that it doesn't happen as often here as one would think in city with as many freeways and covering as much physical area as it does... I'm not sure about other cities in the state but I've driven thousands and thousands of miles on everyone of Houston's freeways in every traffic type imaginable during all hours of the day and I have only experienced "road rage" maybe twice... and it was never anything that escalated past eratic driving and finger waving. I've also never seen road rage going on around me which is suprising... with that said, in one trip to L.A. I saw about five cases of "crazy" road-rage in just under a week, and I've seen an intentional accident in Dallas from road rage.

[G.C.Montgomery]

According to Correa and several witnesses quoted in the report, Tuesday's incident began when Garza maneuvered his Mitsubishi Lancer behind Correa's 2002 Chevrolet Camaro around 1 a.m. and began driving aggressively and trying to hit the Camaro.

I wonder if there was an incident prior to this? It seems odd that the Camaro and driver would be chosen at random. Of course, my spouse always says, "friends don't let friends drive Chevys."

Tom

I kinda wondered about the vehicles involved and what happened prior to this incident...Not that anything Correa could have done would have justified Garza getting out of his vehicle and threatening Correa with a bat. But the vehicles were both driven by fairly young guys (24 year old males). I can't help but wonder, based on the vehicles if there wasn't a street racing element to this. Lancers are popular with "ricers" looking to build their own Mitsubishi EVO (a factory hotrod version of the Lancer) sans AWD or simply too short on coin to afford a new EVO. We all know the Camaro has a VERY long history as a street racer. Then there is the time of night during which all this happened.

Of course, I'm really grasping at straws here and Mr. Correa might really have just been an innocent guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like srothstein, I agree Correa's statement to the reporter was the very best part. It was nice to see someone finally demonstrate and understanding of the fact that unnecessary jaw-jacking does not work in your favor.

[tbranch]

Like srothstein, I agree Correa's statement to the reporter was the very best part. It was nice to see someone finally demonstrate and understanding of the fact that unnecessary jaw-jacking does not work in your favor.

I have to agree with that as well. Nice to see somebody listens and stays quiet.

Tom

[seamusTX]

Like srothstein, I agree Correa's statement to the reporter was the very best part. It was nice to see someone finally demonstrate and understanding of the fact that unnecessary jaw-jacking does not work in your favor.

I have to agree with that as well. Nice to see somebody listens and stays quiet.

He might lurk here or even be a member.

- Jim

[308nato]

I used to deliver air freight and ocean containers all over the Chicago land area from the downtown
loop to the five counties around Chicago and never had a road rage incedent .
Than I moved to houston 17 years ago and have had 3 .
I guess no one wants to mess with you when you are in a large truck just if you are in a car or a
compact pickup.