The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) has thanked two “remarkable truck drivers” who they say used their vehicles to shield a motorist from gunfire earlier this week.
The shooting incident was reported to police around 3:30 p.m. on April 7 in Montgomery County, Missouri.
Troopers say that two passenger vehicles were traveling eastbound on I-70 at mile marker 175 when one motorist opened fire on the other, disabling the vehicle and causing it to come to a stop in the interstate median.
There were three occupants inside the disabled vehicle. No one was hurt.
“Troopers learned that after the victim’s vehicle came to a stop, two tractor-trailer drivers parked their trucks around the van to shield it from additional gun fire,” MSHP wrote in a press release.
The suspect fled west on I-70 after the shooting.
Police were able to locate and arrest the suspected shooter, who was later identified as 28 year old Chad Michael Kennedy, in Boone County, Missouri.
Kennedy later told police that he believed that there was something suspicious about the vehicle he opened fire on and that he “could not allow the vehicle to leave the state of Missouri.” Kennedy reportedly attempted to pull over the vehicle, then displayed a weapon to the vehicle occupants, and finally fired multiple rounds at the vehicle.
Kennedy has been charged with with three counts of assault first degree, one count of armed criminal action and six counts of unlawful use of a weapon. He is being held without bail.
In a tweet about the shooting incident, MSHP wrote, “Special thanks to the remarkable truck drivers who shielded the victims after this incident.”
Suspect Arrested After Interstate Shooting In Montgomery County.
Special thanks to the remarkable truck drivers who shielded the victims after this incident.
Link to News Release: https://t.co/hwlx1lqnTh pic.twitter.com/lLzWGVRuWx
— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) April 9, 2020