A horrifying road rage incident in San Antonio, Texas, has left a 10-year-old girl fighting for her life after she was shot while sitting in the back of her parents' car on the way to school. The shocking event unfolded on Friday morning near Wurzbach Road and Timberhill Drive, turning a routine school run into a nightmare for the Gates family.
Critical Injury During Morning Commute
Alisa Gates, a 10-year-old from San Antonio, sustained a life-threatening gunshot wound to her torso after her mother honked at an aggressive driver to avoid a potential collision. According to Fox San Antonio, the incident occurred when a gray Nissan Murano suddenly backed out of a private driveway in the 4300 block of Timberhill Drive around 7:30am.
Jason Gates, Alisa's father, told KSAT News that his wife honked at the driver for "no more than three seconds" to prevent an accident. What followed was a terrifying escalation that would leave their daughter critically injured and fighting for survival.
Escalation and Shooting
Court documents reveal that the driver of the Nissan, later identified as 41-year-old Bryan Arceo, allegedly brake-checked the Gates' family minivan before pulling up alongside it at a red light. The girl's mother reported that the driver brandished a handgun while both vehicles were stopped, after which she heard a loud "pop" and immediately turned right to speed away from the scene.
Initially, the family didn't realize Alisa had been shot. "My wife looks at my daughter and says, 'Hey, did you get shot?' My daughter says, 'No,'" Jason Gates recounted to KSAT. However, he soon noticed a faint smell of gunpowder and, after slightly opening the car door, discovered a hole pierced through the minivan's back door right where his daughter was seated.
Desperate Attempt to Reach Safety
The family quickly realized Alisa had been shot in the upper body and initially tried to drive her to the hospital themselves. During this desperate journey, they briefly encountered the Nissan a second time. According to the arrest affidavit, Arceo allegedly made an illegal turn to get behind the Gates' car and followed the family for several blocks before stopping his vehicle and getting out while holding a firearm.
Jason Gates said that during this second encounter, they managed to record the license plate number and get a description of the driver for authorities. They then drove around Arceo's car and escaped the area, eventually pulling into a parking lot at Bandera and Callaghan roads to call for emergency help.
Emergency Response and Arrest
Emergency medical services rushed Alisa to the hospital in critical condition, where she underwent emergency surgery. Meanwhile, police investigation revealed disturbing details about the suspect's actions after the shooting. According to court documents, Arceo dropped his ex-wife off at her workplace and surveillance footage captured him dropping his child off at a nearby school.
Police found a live 9mm round at the scene of the shooting and tracked down Arceo later that same afternoon. He was taken into custody and booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center.
Multiple Charges Filed
Bryan Arceo faces serious charges including three counts of aggravated assault for recklessly discharging a firearm - a first-degree felony - and one count of child endangerment. According to the arrest affidavit obtained by KSAT, Arceo allegedly fired a shot through the Gates' minivan while his own daughter and ex-wife were inside his vehicle with him.
Court documents state that Arceo's ex-wife told investigators she saw him point a handgun at the family's van and rack the slide before looking away and hearing a "pop." She also allegedly told authorities that Arceo carries both a silver and a black handgun.
Recovery and Aftermath
Fortunately, Alisa Gates is now "doing really great" after her surgery, according to her father. The family's relief at her recovery is tempered by the traumatic memories now associated with their vehicle. Jason Gates expressed his desire to see the minivan - and the bad memories attached to it - "disappear."
"I told my wife, I said, 'What are we going to do with a bullet hole in the side of the car?'" Jason told KSAT. "She goes, 'I don't want the car anymore.'"
Arceo remains in custody with bail set at $375,000, charged with three first-degree felonies and one state jail felony. The incident serves as a chilling reminder of how quickly routine situations can escalate into life-threatening violence on Texas roads.
