Long Beach police say a heated case of road rage turned terrifying when a driver allegedly pulled a handgun on a young family waiting at a red light, then appeared to chamber a round. The victim, who was driving south on Magnolia Avenue with his wife and their infant daughter, sped off as soon as the gun came out.
According to detectives, the April 28 encounter started when a gray Ford Bronco began honking and tailgating the family’s car. The victim pulled over to let the Bronco pass, then later merged back into traffic, where the two vehicles eventually ended up side by side at a red light at Anaheim Street and Magnolia Avenue, Long Beach Post reported.
At the light, investigators wrote, the Bronco’s driver yelled in Spanish, “Don't talk to me like that,” then lifted his right arm to reveal a black handgun. The victim’s wife recorded video that detectives say shows the driver point the gun toward the sky, rack the slide and then aim it at their car. The family took off. Using the video and a partial license plate, detectives say they identified 42-year-old Jose Luis Pedroza and arrested him on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm and illegally owning ammunition. He was booked into jail and held on $30,000 bail, according to Long Beach Post.
Charges And What They Mean
Pedroza faces several gun-related counts under California law. Being a felon in possession of a firearm is banned under the state’s California Legislature Penal Code 29800, while assault with a deadly weapon is charged under Justia Penal Code 245. That assault statute can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the details of the case.
Police Follow-Up
Investigators say the case is still active and that they relied on the victim’s video, along with the partial license plate, to track down the suspect. Anyone with additional information or footage is urged to submit a tip through the department’s online reporting tools, according to the Long Beach Police.
No injuries were reported, and officers say no shots were fired. The case remains under review by detectives and prosecutors.
