A recent road rage incident in Mesa ended in gunfire, with a family, including their 19-month-old child, in the line of fire as captured by the vehicle's dashboard camera; 24-year-old Alyssa Soto has been apprehended facing aggravated assault charges, as reported by FOX 10.
The unsettling video, which surfaced following the August 7 event, indicates Soto in a black SUV at the intersection of McKellips and Higley Roads in Mesa, rolling down her window and exchanging heated words with the occupants of the Tesla before discharging her firearm, the entire exchange being documented by the vehicle's integrated camera system; the victims, who wished to remain anonymous, relayed this video to authorities aiding in Soto's capture and according to Arizona's Family, Soto's child was also present in the vehicle during the altercation invoking grave concerns over the safety of both families involved.
While the Mesa Police utilized license plate readers to track Soto's SUV, investigations revealed Soto's frustration stemmed from being cut off and clipped by the victim's car, and during the incident, a 9mm pistol was used which was later retrieved from her residence during a warranted search, according to FOX 10. Miraculously, none of the Tesla's occupants sustained injuries, although they expressed understandable apprehension about potential reprisals.
Despite Soto's assertion that her intention was not to cause harm as she said to police that she was "so angry and frustrated that she decided to shoot her handgun at the other vehicle," there can be no justification for such recklessness, especially considering previous traffic-related convictions in her record, which while not violent, beg questions about her impulse control behind the wheel; meanwhile, the bullet and a shell casing were located in proximity to the crime scene - adding to the tangible evidence that allowed for swift law enforcement action detailed by Arizona's Family.
