A 26-year-old Lula man faces attempted murder and other charges following a road rage incident Wednesday morning in Gainesville.
Police say Steven Dallas Cooper and another driver, Michael Charles Gabriel, were involved in a road rage incident that started on 365 north of Gainesville.
“The aggression continued between the parties involved until Cooper began firing a handgun at YMCA Drive,” says Gainesville Police Lt. Kevin Holbrook.
According to Holbrook, Cooper fired multiple shots, striking Gabriel and 65-year-old Paula Blackwell who was traveling on the highway. She was hospitalized in critical condition.
“This poor lady was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” says Holbrook.
After the shooting, Gabriel drove approximately three miles south to the Imaging Center on Jesse Jewell Parkway where he called 911. He sustained minor injuries.
Gainesville police took Cooper into custody at the scene of the shooting. Holbrook says there was a 2-year-old child in his vehicle.
Police charged Cooper with aggravated battery, criminal attempt to commit murder, criminal damage to property, reckless conduct and aggravated assault. He was booked at the Hall County Jail.
Police shut down GA 365 South near the YMCA across from Lanier Technical College while they investigated. Traffic was diverted until the road reopened shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday.
