A tense Tempe road-rage encounter on July 1 turned violent when a man who was not involved in a minor rear-end crash pulled a handgun on another driver, then hit him with the weapon, according to video of the incident. The targeted driver bolted across the street to a convenience store, grabbed a wet-floor sign for makeshift cover and waited inside while the armed man lingered outside.
According to FOX 10 Phoenix, Tempe police identified the suspect as Johnny Ferguson III. Investigators say the confrontation started after a rear-end crash near Mill and Southern avenues, when Ferguson got out of a car, pointed a black handgun at the victim and struck him in the head. The victim then drove to a nearby Circle K, where he took shelter inside and called 911 while the suspect remained outside the store.
Busy Corner, Plenty of Cameras
Mapping services show a Circle K on Southern Avenue near Mill, the convenience store where the driver sought cover during the incident, according to Apple Maps. That stretch of Mill and Southern is a compact commercial corridor with heavy foot traffic and multiple businesses that can produce bystander and surveillance video.
Police Track Down Suspect, Court Sets Bond
Tempe detectives later located and arrested Ferguson, and court filings show he is charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, FOX 10 Phoenix reported. During his initial appearance, the court set a $75,000 secured appearance bond. According to court paperwork, Ferguson told officers the woman involved in the crash was his sister and admitted he took the incident too far. Investigators said they relied on viewer video and footage from nearby businesses to identify and track him down.
What the Law Says About Pulling a Gun
Under Arizona law, assaults that involve a deadly weapon are treated as aggravated assault, with the statute listing the use of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument as an aggravating factor. The law is detailed in Arizona Legislature materials. Aggravated assault carries enhanced penalties compared with simple assault under state law.
What Happens Next in Court
Ferguson is scheduled to return to court on July 15. The judge noted that if he posts bond, he could be released to the supervision of pretrial services. Maricopa County's pretrial services program can impose conditions such as electronic monitoring, no-contact orders and testing while a case moves through the courts, according to the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department.
