UPDATE (Nov. 29, 2022): Charles Kuhn pleaded guilty to pointing a firearm. Battery and criminal recklessness charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement. He was sentenced to 365 days, with the bulk of the sentence suspended. He was ordered to do community service and undergo anger management classes.
INDIANAPOLIS – A driver accused of confronting a teen with a gun following a road rage incident on Indy’s southeast side has been identified.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the incident happened around 1 p.m. Sunday at an intersection along County Line Road.
The suspect could be seen on video yanking open the victim’s driver’s side door and threatening him with a gun.
“That not only put the 17-year-old in danger, it put the community in danger. It was just unsafe behavior at that time,” said IMPD officer Samone Burris.
Officers from the Southeast District were dispatched to the 6300 block of Lonestar Drive, where they spoke to a 17-year-old and a parent. The teen told police a man assaulted and pointed a gun at him.
The teen recorded the interaction on his cell phone and police released a picture of the suspect who was later identified thanks to the public’s assistance.
According to the police report, the teen admitted the incident started after he threw a water bottle out of his car window and upset the suspect. The teen had no physical injuries from the encounter, police said.
Whatever the motive, police say drivers need to stay calm behind the wheel.
“It’s just not safe for people to take matters in their own hands, get upset and display weapons and become so upset they put themselves or other drivers in jeopardy,” said Burris.
While IMPD does not track the number of road rage cases in the city, last year Indiana State Police reported a dramatic increase in road rage shootings on central Indiana interstates.
That’s why police advise everyone if confronted by an unruly driver, to write down a license plate number, call 911 and let police respond.
Drivers should never escalate traffic disputes with violence or the threat of violence.
“We are asking you to let the police do their job,” said Burris. “Follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Remain calm in that situation.”
Now that the suspect has been identified, police are working to interview him to get his side of the story.
After that, it’ll be up to the prosecutor’s office to decide if criminal charges should be filed.
