The events that unfolded on Thursday night along the 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights were nothing short of harrowing. During rush hour, a road rage incident escalated into a shooting that left one person dead and another injured. This incident not only caused a significant traffic disruption, closing northbound lanes for over eight hours, but also raised serious concerns about safety on our roads.
In a disturbing turn of events, two vehicles—a gold Cadillac and a dark-colored SUV—were involved in a high-speed chase that ultimately led to the violence. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the potential dangers that can arise in moments of road rage, highlighting the need for vigilance and calm behind the wheel.
For more than eight hours Thursday night, northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights remained closed as authorities investigated an apparent road rage shooting that occurred during rush hour traffic, killing one person and injuring another.
The two suspects were able to drive off, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP responded to a call of shots fired and a vehicle driving in the wrong direction on the freeway around 4 p.m. Thursday just north of Grande Vista Avenue, according to a CHP news release.
Two vehicles, a gold Cadillac and another described only as a dark-colored SUV, were involved in a road rage incident, chasing each other on the freeway before the Cadillac crashed into an uninvolved third vehicle, the CHP said.
At that point, two men exited the SUV and opened fire on the Cadillac’s two occupants, striking both the driver and passenger, officials said. The driver of the Cadillac then made a U-turn — driving southbound into northbound traffic — attempting to escape the shooters.
There was no description or other information available about the suspects, who remain outstanding, CHP Sgt. Robert McIntosh said Friday morning.
The passenger of the Cadillac, who was identified by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner only as a man in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was transported to a hospital for treatment. The driver’s condition was not clear Friday morning.
The freeway was shut down after 4 p.m. Thursday and was reopened around 1 a.m. Friday, McIntosh said. Traffic was backed up for miles — all the way to
