KANSAS CITY —Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson recently highlighted several felony cases involving road rage incidents to warn residents about the severe legal consequences that can result from momentary anger on roadways.
Since 2022, the Prosecutor’s Office received approximately 19 cases involving road rage incidents that escalated to assaults, vehicular injuries, or the use of firearms. So far this year, the Prosecutor’s Office has received and charged four cases already involving road rage.
Nationwide, road rage incidents involving firearms doubled from 2018 to 2023, with hundreds of people killed or wounded every year.
“What begins as a temporary traffic annoyance can escalate into tragedy in seconds,” said Prosecutor Johnson. “Driving behaviors like someone cutting another vehicle off, driving slowly in a passing lane, swerving to avoid something in the road, or forgetting to use a turn signal, can trigger potentially deadly responses.
“We are urging all drivers to remember that a moment of rage is not worth a lifetime of consequences or your freedom. If you encounter an aggressive driver, do not engage. If you feel threatened, call 911, or drive to the nearest police station, hospital, or fire station.”
Prosecutors are handling several serious road rage cases this year:
- Adam Burnett was charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Armed Criminal Action after allegedly chasing and firing at a vehicle that cut him off on March 23. He could face five to 15 years in prison.
- Christian Eubanks was charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Armed Criminal Action, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child after he allegedly fired at another vehicle while his toddler was in his car on March 21.
- Joshwa Pearman was charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Armed Criminal Action after he allegedly fired at another vehicle during a road rage incident on Jan. 22.
- Brian K. Watson was charged with 1st Degree Assault and Leaving the Scene of an Accident after he allegedly struck a pedestrian with his car and fled the scene on Jan. 18. The defendant has a history of road rage incidents.
- And Isaiah Francis was charged this week of 2nd Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action in connection with a fatal road rage incident that took place on Nov. 8, 2024.