In a recent incident, a road rage incident escalated to the point of firearm brandishing on westbound I-80. On January 28, a victim dialed the authorities to report that another motorist had menacingly displayed what appeared to be a firearm. The California Highway Patrol's Oakland Area office received the call at roughly 3:45 p.m., just east of Powell Street. A detailed account of the weapon, the suspect, and the vehicle in question was provided to officers, initiating an urgent response.

The CHP Oakland Area Major Crimes Unit promptly took over the investigation, meticulously following the threads of information that led them to a residence in Benicia. On Tuesday, they apprehended the suspect without physical altercations. During the arrest, law enforcement was able to execute a search warrant at the suspect's abode, and there they found the pellet gun ingeniously crafted to mimic an AR-15-style rifle. The suspect, whose identity has not been shared, was taken into custody and faced charges including brandishing a weapon and assault with a deadly weapon, as confirmed by a social media post from CHP Oakland.

Despite the weapon turning out to be a pellet gun, authorities emphasized the gravity of wielding any weapon, be it an authentic firearm or its replica, especially amidst the fray of vehicular transit. CHP reminded motorists to steer clear of confrontations on the roads and to report hazardous conduct immediately to 9-1-1.