A routine DoorDash run in Gwinnett County turned into a roadside nightmare when a driver says another motorist opened fire with a BB gun on Highway 316, shattering his rear window and forcing him off the road.
The delivery driver, who asked not to be named, told reporters he keeps replaying one detail: his young son, who usually rides in the backseat, was not with him that night. "I could have died on his birthday," he said, adding that the thought still rattles him.
He says that after the shot blew out his rear window, he managed to keep control of the car, call 911 and read the other vehicle's license plate aloud to dispatchers, helping officers track down the suspect.
Plate Cameras Help Track Down Suspect
Gwinnett County police identified 22-year-old Brangert Mora Lizarazo as the person they say fired into the victim's back window around 7 p.m. Investigators say they followed a gray Honda through license-plate camera hits and arrested a suspect the same day, according to WSB-TV.
Police say Mora Lizarazo faces five criminal counts and is being held in the Gwinnett County Jail without bond.
Driver’s Split-Second Move May Have Saved His Life
The victim told reporters he had tried to wave the other driver off before things escalated. When the rear window suddenly exploded, he says he ducked instinctively and fought to keep control of the car, avoiding what he believed could have been a deadly crash on a busy highway.
Master Police Officer Brock Marks praised the driver for staying calm enough to keep talking with 911, relay a plate number and follow instructions, calling it a textbook example of how to handle a terrifying situation. He also offered a blunt reminder that so-called “fake” guns are not harmless toys.
"A BB gun can be just as severe as a true, traditional firearm," Marks said, as reported by WSB-TV. Officers say the quick 911 call and video-assisted plate checks helped lead to a same-day arrest.
How Dangerous Can BB and Pellet Guns Really Be?
Medical researchers have long warned that modern BB and pellet guns can cause serious injuries that look nothing like childhood backyard mishaps. A recent case report and review in the Journal of Medical Case Reports notes thousands of nonfatal pellet-gun injuries are treated in U.S. emergency departments each year, including cases where pellets penetrated soft tissue, bone or even the skull.
What Drivers Are Urged To Do In Road-Rage Incidents
Police and traffic safety experts say the safest move when tempers flare on the road is to disengage. That means avoiding eye contact, not responding to taunts, driving to a well-lit public area and calling 911 rather than trying to confront another driver.
The Gwinnett case underscores how a clear, calm call to 911, with details like a license plate number and vehicle description, can help officers move quickly without putting more people in danger.
What Comes Next In The Case
Gwinnett County authorities have charged Mora Lizarazo, and the case remains under investigation as officers complete their reports for the district attorney, who will determine the final slate of charges.
The victim says that for now, he is just grateful his son was not in the car that night and believes his quick reactions helped keep a frightening encounter from turning into a tragedy.
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