A Marion County jury on today convicted New Palestine resident Stephen Uppfalt in a road‑rage shooting on Interstate 465 that wounded a 19‑year‑old driver. Uppfalt now faces sentencing later this month after being found guilty of attempted murder and related counts.
Jurors found Uppfalt guilty of attempted murder along with battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery and two counts of criminal recklessness, according to WISH‑TV. The outlet reports the shooting happened May 21, 2023, and that Uppfalt is due to be sentenced on April 27.
How prosecutors say it unfolded
Indiana State Police say the victim was entering I‑465 near Brookville Road when another vehicle pulled up alongside, the driver yelled and then opened fire, striking the Kia’s driver, per WRTV. First responders reached the vehicle before it made it to a hospital, and two female passengers in the car were not hit.
Evidence shown at trial
Prosecutors told jurors that multiple rounds were fired toward the Kia and that Uppfalt later turned over the handgun investigators say was used in the incident, according to WISH‑TV. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears told the court, "there's no place in our society where words or a plastic bottle should be met with bullets," the report says.
Where this fits
The conviction comes as Marion County has sought tougher enforcement of highway violence after several high‑profile episodes; last year a jury sentenced a driver to 60 years in a fatal I‑70 road‑rage shooting. 60 years for fatal I‑70 road‑rage shooting and other outlets covered that case as part of a broader push to hold dangerous drivers accountable.
What’s next
Uppfalt is scheduled to be sentenced on April 27. The Marion County court will take testimony from prosecutors and victims before the judge imposes a sentence.
