*I kid you not*: Road Rage turns into drive-by crossbow shooting (only in AR)

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ^ | 17 OCT 06 | dcbryan1

[DCBryan1]

Road rage builds on I-630 until arrow hits Camaro

Road rage took a decidedly medieval turn Sunday when a Little Rock man was arrested after police said he attempted to settle a traffic dispute with a crossbow.

Police said Wayne Allen Dierks Jr., 26, of 300 Walnut St. in Little Rock fired a crossbow at a motorist who had made an obscene gesture at him. Dierks was charged with committing a terroristic act, possession of an instrument of crime, driving while intoxicated and driving on a suspended driver’s license.

“It was a drive-by crossbow shooting,” said Steve Gilgenbach, a University of Arkansas Little Rock student who was driving the Camaro police said Dierks shot at. “I’ve never been shot at by a crossbow before.”

Gilgenbach, a pitcher on the UALR baseball team, said he was on his way to his west Little Rock apartment after practice and was pulling onto Interstate 630 at Fair Park Boulevard when the trouble began.

“I was merging on the highway and I had to get in, so I cut the guy off,” Gilgenbach admitted. “He started following me, cursing at me and yelling for me to pull over.”

According to a police report, Gilgenbach admitted he had made an obscene gesture at Dierks, who was driving a Ford Explorer. On Monday, though, Gilgenbach said he couldn’t remember gesturing at Dierks.

The pursuit continued for several miles to the end of Interstate 630 and onto Financial Centre Parkway. “We stopped at several stoplights and he was trying to get me to stop because he wanted to fight me,” Gilgenbach said.

As the two drivers neared the Bowman Road intersection, Dierks made the next move.

[DCBryan1]

Every state has what I call "mouthbreathers", but Arkansas has just a few to many...obviously transplants from Alabama ;)

[theDentist]

I recall there was a murder by crossbow on I-495 in Massachusetts some10 years or so ago, same reason.

[freedomlover]

"I’ve never been shot at by a crossbow before"

---

I hate it when that happens.

[freedomlover]

K - Marro Ping

[Syntyr]

"Road rage took a decidedly medieval turn Sunday when a Little Rock man was arrested after police said he attempted to settle a traffic dispute with a crossbow."

In order to go truly medieval mount a trebuchet on your car!!!!

[llevrok]

Hold muh beer and watch this ....(twang!!!)

[CharlesWayneCT]

I agree the guy needs to go to jail, but I am a bit disturbed by the charge of a "terroristic act". I mean, surely ANY act of agression could be said to cause "terror", but his purpose here wasn't to "terrorize" the populace, it was just to get back at someone who "terrorized" him with an obscene gesture.

[D.P.Roberts]

Well, sometimes ya gotta work with what ya got.

[LexBaird]

Was the perp driving an orange Charger with the Confederate flag on the roof?

[Tax-chick]

Keep yourself under control when driving, or else!

[LexBaird]

In order to go truly medieval mount a trebuchet on your car!!!!

Or vice versa.

[Frapster]

“It was a drive-by crossbow shooting,” said Steve Gilgenbach, a University of Arkansas Little Rock student who was driving the Camaro police said Dierks shot at. “I’ve never been shot at by a crossbow before.”

You mean you have a list???

[Kirkwood]

Rude drivers are the norm these days. You would think people would be used to it by now and save their arrows for shooting deer along the highway.

[MineralMan]

"Keep yourself under control when driving, or else!
"

Yup. Keep that middle finger on the steering wheel. It just isn't worth your life to flip off some nutcase in the car next to you.

[tioga]

Maybe the crossbow loon is related to Bubba?

[null and void]

twang

[trisham]

I recall there was a murder by crossbow on I-495 in Massachusetts some10 years or so ago, same reason

***************

I do believe you are correct.

[TC Rider]

The pursuit continued for several miles to the end of Interstate 630 and onto Financial Centre Parkway. “We stopped at several stoplights and he was trying to get me to stop because he wanted to fight me,” Gilgenbach said.

LOL, we stayed right there at the 'Holiday Inn Select' just a few weeks ago.

We weren't in too much fear of crossbows as we were there for the IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) Nationals.

[Redcloak]

Was the shooter wearing feathers, shoulderpads, chaps, and a thong?

[VRWCtaz]

"I agree the guy needs to go to jail, but I am a bit disturbed by the charge of a "terroristic act". I mean, surely ANY act of aggression could be said to cause "terror", but his purpose here wasn't to "terrorize" the populace, it was just to get back at someone who "terrorized" him with an obscene gesture."

My thoughts as well. What's next - a terroristic hate crime?

[TChris]

Dierks was charged with committing a terroristic act...

Puh-LEEZE!

Too frequent use of a word renders it meaningless. Please drop the trendy idea that every little criminal act is "terrorism."

[AnalogReigns]

"As the two drivers neared the Bowman Road intersection...

Oh brother....

[ErnBatavia]

It's probably like California's legalese lingo...I was on a jury a few months ago (attempted murder), and one of the charges was "making terrorist threats"...because the perp had of course said "I'm going to kill you", before he emptied his .45 at his target (and missed)

[rlmorel]

If I hear banjo music, I am outta here.

[Charles Martel]

“I was merging on the highway and I had to get in, so I cut the guy off,” Gilgenbach admitted.

Ah, but since Mr. Failure To Yield was the "victim" of road rage, he probably didn't get a ticket - or even a stern warning.

[doesnt suffer fools gladly]

I recall there was a murder by crossbow on I-495 in Massachusetts some10 years or so ago, same reason.

I remember that. He killed the guy. The killer was an older man, if I recall correctly.

[Fresh Wind]

Did the guy with the crossbow have a Dodge Charger with a Confederate flag on the roof?

[Rb ver. 2.0]

“I was merging on the highway and I had to get in, so I cut the guy off,”

*That* is exactly the way one is supposed merge onto a highway.

[bolobaby]

I agree the guy needs to go to jail, but I am a bit disturbed by the charge of a "terroristic act". I mean, surely ANY act of agression could be said to cause "terror", but his purpose here wasn't to "terrorize" the populace, it was just to get back at someone who "terrorized" him with an obscene gesture.

Agreed. This is just like the fruitcakes who want to make certain crimes "hate crimes" in addition to whatever else the crime may be. That's a foolish abuse of the statutes.

[ansel12]

"You mean you have a list???"



So far my list is rocks, bottles, bullets, and long bow, the arrow incident happened in Albuquerque.

[Tax-chick]

Anoreth's taking driver's ed this week. We've been discussion self-control and how it relates to driving for some time! Middle fingers are not something we do (in fact, my 6-year-old just learned about that from a friend who started public school. GAH!).

However, I'm concerned about the possibilities if Anoreth discovers the *horn*!

[CommandoFrank]

He was just trying to make a point...

[Beelzebubba]

Dierks was charged with committing a terroristic act...

---

This is the creepy part of the story.

[Just another Joe]

In order to go truly medieval mount a trebuchet on your car!!!!

Don't you mean mount the OTHER guys car on your trebuchet?

[monday]

"but his purpose here wasn't to "terrorize" the populace, it was just to get back at someone who "terrorized" him with an obscene gesture."

lol... your priorities are all screwed up. What is more terrorizing, chasing, trying to run someone off the road, and honking your horn trying to get them to stop so you can fight them, and shooting at them with a cross bow? or an obscene gesture? People with road rage terrorize everyone they share the road with. I think the charge of 'terroristic act' is perfectly appropriate.

[TexasRepublic]

When crowbows are outlawed, only outlaws will have crossbows.

[monday]

"*That* is exactly the way one is supposed merge onto a highway."

Well, it is better than stopping on the on ramp, but best would be to drive a car that goes when you step on the throttle, so that you can get up to speed fast enough to avoid cutting off anyone. People who drive underpowered economy cars, and the very old and timid, should not be allowed on the freeway during rush hours. They are a traffic hazard.

[popdonnelly]

I didn't know they had such advanced weapons in Arkansas.

[BfloGuy]

Please drop the trendy idea that every little criminal act is "terrorism."

And that actual acts of terrorism (shooting up the El Al counter at LAX for example) aren't.

[BfloGuy]

Please drop the trendy idea that every little criminal act is "terrorism."

And that actual acts of terrorism (shooting up the El Al counter at LAX for example) aren't.

[monday]

"So far my list is rocks, bottles, bullets, and long bow, the arrow incident happened in Albuquerque."

lol.... You don't sound very popular. Why all the hostility?

[april15Bendovr]

[CharlesWayneCT]

There's no indication he went in too slow, more likely the other driver was passing on the right, and when he saw the merger he sped up to keep him from coming in.

The right thing to do if you are in the right lane is to slow down a bit to let the incoming traffic merge smoothly.

But you know, the other guy was DRIVING WITH A CROSSBOW IN HIS CAR. That has to tell you something about his state of mind. It's not like he drove home and GOT his cross-bow and brought it back, he already had it IN HIS CAR AND ACCESSIBLE, like he was looking for trouble.

So that's my real question -- why was the guy driving around with a loaded crossbow in the front seat of his car?

[techcor]

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, thwiitttt, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.

[Mad Dawg]

Dierks was charged with committing a terroristic act...

Puh-LEEZE!

Too frequent use of a word renders it meaningless. Please drop the trendy idea that every little criminal act is "terrorism."

That's a HUGE 10-4.

[ansel12]

A man can't live an exciting life without getting shot at occasionally.

[sweetliberty]

"we stayed right there at the 'Holiday Inn Select' just a few weeks ago."

"Select," doubtless because of the live entertainment available from the comfort of your hotel room.

[monday]

"Dierks was charged with committing a terroristic act... "

---

"This is the creepy part of the story"

I think the "terroristic" part is chasing the other car trying to get it to stop so that he could fight. If you threaten another with physical violence, you are by definition "terrorizing" them. The cross bow part was probably just 'assault', not 'terrorizing'.

Even if he had not shot at the guy with a cross bow, chasing, and terrorizing someone with your car is illegal. It's a "terroristic act". Don't think that terror acts are only perpetrated by professional terrorists. Any bully can terrorize people, even amateur bullies.

[Mad Dawg]

I think the charge of 'terroristic act' is perfectly appropriate.

Here's why I disagree. If one-on-one violence, even if it inadvertently threatens the safety of others, is called terroristic, what shall we call acts which are assymetrical, one (or few) on many, and designed precisely to obstruct commerce and limit the exercise of freedoms by making people afraid?

We already have aggravated assault for acts like the one described. The problem with language inflation is that it impoverishes those who rely on language, which would be most of us ... okay, except democrats.

[sweetliberty]

"Why all the hostility?"

He keeps flipping people off on the highway?