A road-rage blowup near the Walmart Supercenter at Georgia and Missouri avenues NW on Saturday ended with gunfire, a hospital trip and a 58-year-old man under arrest, according to D.C. police. The suspect was taken into custody close to the scene, and the other driver was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries that authorities describe as non-life-threatening. Police identified the man as Lafonzo Leonard Williams and say he now faces criminal charges.
What police say
According to WJLA, officers were called to the Georgia and Missouri avenues NW intersection around 4:07 p.m. for a dispute between drivers. Investigators allege Williams got out of his vehicle and fired at the other driver, who was later treated for injuries that police say are not life-threatening.
Officers found Williams and his vehicle near the scene and arrested him. He has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.
Suspect description and tips
The MPD alert picked up by local outlets described the suspect as an older, heavyset, bald man who left in a blue Chevy SUV with D.C. tags and was reportedly wearing a red hoodie. Those details were shared with the public to help investigators track down the vehicle.
DC News Now reported that police are asking anyone with dash-cam or cellphone footage from the area to come forward. Authorities provided the tip line number 202-727-9099 and said tips may also be sent by text to 50411.
Not an isolated pattern
The Metropolitan Police Department has warned that road-rage confrontations can flip from shouting to violence in a matter of seconds and says it has made other arrests tied to traffic disputes this spring. In April, the department released information on a separate road-rage arrest in Northwest that involved the recovery of a firearm and criminal charges, underscoring how quickly arguments can escalate; see the MPD news release for details.
Police continue to urge drivers to disengage from confrontations and to call 911 to report threats or weapons instead of trying to settle arguments in traffic.
Legal note
Williams is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, a felony-level offense under District law that is treated as a crime of violence and can carry significant penalties if there is a conviction. The District's criminal code and sentencing guidelines categorize weapon-enhanced assaults among serious offenses, although the specific penalties depend on prosecutors' formal filings and the outcome in court. For background on the statute, see Justia and local sentencing guidance.
Next steps in the case
Police say Williams remains in MPD custody on the assault with a dangerous weapon charge, and prosecutors will decide on formal filings and any upcoming court dates. Investigators are still reviewing video and witness accounts and are asking anyone with information to contact detectives. This story will be updated as court records and official filings become available.
