A motorcyclist who opened fire on a truck driver in a road rage incident in Michigan last month is now facing assault with intent to murder charges and if convicted, he could face life in prison.
The shooting happened on September 14 in the eastbound lanes of I-94 near mile marker 24.
Trucker Testifies On Road Rage Shooting
During a preliminary hearing on the case on Tuesday, truck driver Allen Shotko said that he was in the middle lane when a motorcycle sped past him in the right lane. He said that the 34 year old motorcyclist, Trenton Norris, appeared to be shouting obscenities at him and motioned for him to pull over.
When Shotko did not pull over, he said that Norris appeared to set the cruise control on his motorcycle, pulled a gun out of his jacket, and fired back over his shoulder at the semi. Shotko said that Norris shot at him a second time, this time appearing to take deliberate aim.
Shotko wasn’t hurt. A bullet hole was later found in the radiator of his truck.
Norris was located and arrested about 16 miles from the site of the shooting. He admitted to shooting at the truck and said that he was angry because he believed that he had been cut off.
Amended Charges Could Mean Life In Prison
He was originally charged with assault to do great bodily harm less than murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharge of a firearm from a motor vehicle and carrying a concealed weapon.
After hearing Shotko’s testimony, the prosecution asked to amend the assault charge to assault with intent to murder. In Michigan, anyone found guilty of assault with intent to murder “shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for life or any number of years.”
The concealed weapons charge was dropped after it was determined that Norris holds a valid concealed carry license.
Norris’s lawyer has claimed in court that his client suffers from PTSD and has a brain injury.
Sources:
The Herald Palladium