Suspect on the run after U-City road rage incident

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. – A driver in a black, late-model Toyota sedan is on the run after a road rage shooting in University City.

According to a statement from the University City Police Department, the shooting happened at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Interstate 170 southbound off-ramp to Delmar Boulevard.

Police confirmed the victim suffered a gunshot wound to the arm. Their injury is not life-threatening.

University City police want to speak with anyone who may have information about Wednesday morning’s incident and are encouraging drivers to take steps to avoid becoming victims of road rage.

“People need to calm down and drive safely. Nothing is worth taking a life over—a car accident or getting cut off,” University City Police Sgt. Terrence Lott said. “It’s getting out of hand.”

The shooting led to a major traffic backup as emergency crews gathered around the ramp to investigate.

Fred Whitted knows first-hand the impact that road rage can have on a family. In December 2020, his sister, Kristen Whitted, was shot and killed while driving on Interstate 170 near Olive Boulevard in Olivette. She was caught in the crossfire of a rolling gun battle.

“My sister was actually on her way to go meet her friend to go for a walk in the park and there was allegedly two vehicles and they had gotten into a road rage incident, and there was a shootout on the highway,” Whitted said. “And, unfortunately, my sister was struck with a bullet and was murdered.”

Kristen was a loving mother and IT worker. Her family continues to call for the senseless violence to end.

“Road rage, to me, is probably one of the more selfish acts you can have when it comes to violence in our community, because it’s avoidable,” Whitted said.

At this point, authorities have not discussed a possible motive or if the shooter and victim knew one another.

The University City Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding the suspect. Police described the suspect as a Black man with a mustache in all black clothes. He was last seen driving west into the 8600 block of Delmar Boulevard.

If you have any relevant information in this investigation, contact U-City police at 314-725-2211 (Ext. 8010) or Crime Stoppers at 866-371-TIPS.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story attributed information from police indicating the victim was not shot. An updated news release from the University City Police Department states that the victim was shot in the arm.

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