A 46-year-old Tennessee man has been charged with attempted first-degree murder after police say he shot a teenage passenger in the back during an early-morning road rage confrontation on Highway 153, leaving the 15-year-old paralyzed from the waist down.
Background
The shooting occurred around 4:30 a.m. on June 26 when two teenagers were driving in a blue Honda Fit and became involved in what investigators described as a "rolling road rage incident" with the driver of a pickup truck, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by local NBC affiliate WRCB.
The teens told police the pickup repeatedly tried to run them off the road. After briefly escaping, the truck caught up with them again when both vehicles entered Highway 153 southbound between Thrasher Bridge and Exit 5A. As the Honda attempted to exit the highway near Bonny Oaks Drive, the pickup pulled alongside the driver's side and two gunshots rang out.
The Investigation
One bullet struck the passenger in the back, damaging his spinal cord and rendering him unable to move his legs, according to court documents. Detectives found bullet damage to the driver's side of the Honda consistent with the teens' account, local ABC affiliate WTVC reported.
The victims told police the pickup had a broken rear window displaying an American flag decal. Investigators used license plate reader data and surveillance video to identify a blue Nissan Titan registered to Jeffrey Robert Brooks that regularly traveled through the area during early morning hours.
Detectives later learned Brooks replaced the broken rear window and removed the American flag decal three days after the shooting, despite the damage remaining unrepaired for approximately six months prior. Investigators cited this repair as the basis for an evidence-tampering charge.
When officers arrested Brooks, he acknowledged owning the Nissan Titan and numerous firearms recovered during the investigation, according to police.
The Charges
Brooks was charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count each of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, felony reckless endangerment, and tampering with or fabricating evidence. He was booked into Hamilton County Jail following his arrest and was being held on $100,000 bond as of Friday morning.
Key Takeaways
- The 15-year-old victim was left paralyzed from the waist down after being shot in the spine during a road rage confrontation on Highway 153 near Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Investigators identified Brooks' blue Nissan Titan through license plate reader data and surveillance video, linking it to the shooting scene
- Police allege Brooks replaced his vehicle's broken rear window and removed an American flag decal three days after the incident, forming the basis for an evidence-tampering charge
- Brooks acknowledged owning the Nissan Titan and multiple firearms when arrested, according to authorities
What's Next
Brooks remains in Hamilton County Jail on $100,000 bond while awaiting arraignment. The investigation is ongoing as prosecutors prepare their case.