Police in Arizona are looking for a suspect in a fatal road rage incident that resulted in the shooting death of a grandmother and the wounding of her 4-year-old granddaughter.
According to Phoenix police, Elvina Legarde, 69, was riding in a maroon Dodge Durango with her daughter and three grandchildren, ages 2, 4, and 7, Sunday afternoon when they were involved in a minor accident. Witnesses at the scene say the incident occurred when the SUV was rear ended by an older model white four-door Ford, possibly an Escort, at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Camelback Road.
"The drivers got out briefly—then there was some verbal altercation and a white Ford Escort followed the Dodge Durango," police spokesperson Stacie Derge said in an interview with Azfamily.com.
The driver of the Escort then allegedly followed the SUV to the intersection of 21st Avenue and Ocotillo Road, where the passenger, a Hispanic male, pulled out a large handgun and fired multiple shots at the SUV. One of the bullets struck Elvina in the head and a second struck her granddaughter, 4-year-old Ilona Porter, in the arm. The suspects sped off when Elvina's daughter pulled the SUV over at the intersection of 21st Avenue and Glendale.
"We got out and I called 911 and I put my shirt over the little girl's arm," eyewitness Michael Johnson told KPHO.com.
The wounded were quickly transported to the hospital but Elvina's injuries proved to be too severe. She died shortly after arrival.
"Instead of us pulling her off life support she went on her own," an unidentified family member told ABC15.com, adding, "We're upset [and] we want to catch the people who did it."
Ilona remains in the hospital in stable condition. None of the other passengers in the SUV were injured and investigators are not releasing their names.
According to police, the shooter was a mid 20s Hispanic male, who spoke fluent English. Witnesses say he was wearing a white T-shirt. The driver of the Escort was a pregnant Hispanic female in her early 20s. She was wearing a headband with navy polka dots and eyeglasses with dark heavy frames.
Anyone with information is urged to call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO.
Discovery Health :: Personality Assessments: Take a driving personality test to see if you show any signs of road rage.
Comment on this article
