Texas Road Rage Shooting Leaves 10-Year-Old Girl Hospitalised After Stomach Wound
A routine school run turned into a harrowing ordeal for a Texas family when a road rage incident escalated into a shooting that left a 10-year-old girl with a gunshot wound to the stomach, according to police reports from San Antonio.
Incident Unfolds Near Timberhill Drive and Wurzbach Road
The terrifying episode occurred on Friday morning as the family was driving to drop young Alisa Gates off at school. Authorities state that the suspect, identified as 41-year-old Bryan Arceo, allegedly fired a handgun at the family's minivan after an initial confrontation.
The situation began when Arceo backed out of his driveway, prompting Alisa's mother to sound her car horn briefly—for no more than three seconds, her father later recounted—to alert him to a potential traffic collision. This seemingly minor warning triggered a violent response.
Escalation Leads to Gunfire and Critical Injury
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by local media, Arceo then engaged in dangerous driving behaviour, brake-checking the family's vehicle before pulling alongside them at a red light. It was at this point that the mother reported seeing Arceo point a handgun directly at their van.
A single gunshot followed, with the bullet piercing the side door of the minivan and striking Alisa Gates as she sat in the back seat. Her parents initially smelled gunpowder before discovering their daughter had been wounded. The child was rushed to hospital where she underwent emergency surgery for her injuries. Fortunately, her parents escaped physical harm.
Suspect's Ex-Wife Provides Crucial Witness Account
While initial reports suggested Arceo was alone in his gray Nissan Murano, the affidavit reveals his ex-wife was actually present during the shooting. She provided investigators with a detailed account, stating she witnessed Arceo point the firearm at the family's vehicle and rack the slide before firing.
She told police she looked away upon hearing the gunshot. The witness also confirmed that Arceo typically carries a silver and black handgun, consistent with evidence recovered at the scene where officers found a live 9mm round.
Multiple Felony Charges Filed Against Suspect
Bryan Arceo now faces serious legal consequences for his alleged actions. He has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault for recklessly discharging a firearm—classified as first-degree felonies—along with an additional count of child endangerment.
Surveillance footage captured after the incident shows Arceo dropping his ex-wife at work and a child at a nearby school before he was taken into custody on Friday. He is currently being held at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center as the investigation continues.
This disturbing case highlights the potentially deadly consequences of road rage and serves as a sobering reminder about the importance of de-escalation in traffic disputes. The Gates family's ordinary morning commute became a life-threatening situation through what authorities describe as a reckless and violent overreaction to a simple warning.
