Road rage leads to arrest

A man faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon stemming from a road rage incident Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 1, in northwest Parker County.

Parker County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded about 2:24 p.m. to a residence in the Poolville area after the victim called 911 reporting the violent encounter.

Deputies determined that Thomas Earl Jones Jr., 30, was driving on FM 920 when he allegedly drove in close proximity to the victim’s vehicle, according to Sgt. Shane Cartwright, Public Information officer for the Parker County Sheriff’s Office.

After an apparent exchange of gestures, the victim drove to a residence in the Poolville area, with Jones following.

When the victim arrived and parked in a private driveway, Jones reportedly drove past the victim’s driveway, turned around, returned, stopped in front of the residence and yelled threats. Moments later, a gunshot was fired, striking the victim’s vehicle and passing through the windshield before breaking the rear glass.

The victim retrieved a handgun and fired several times toward Jones as he fled the scene. Neither Jones nor his vehicle was struck.

Shortly afterward, Weatherford Police officers stopped Jones near the 1800 block of Mineral Wells Highway. A search of his vehicle reportedly uncovered a disassembled 9 mm handgun, with its components scattered throughout the vehicle.

During questioning, Jones allegedly admitted to following the victim, being at the residence, and firing the handgun. He reportedly told investigators he was angry and acknowledged that he should not have acted as he did.

Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier condemned the incident, calling road rage “needless and totally preventable.”.

Jones was still in the Parker County Jail as of Wednesday afternoon, awaiting arraignment on the second-degree felony.