A trucker in Oklahoma City has been charged with multiple crimes after shooting at a fellow trucker in an apparent road rage incident.
The incident occurred when 55-year-old Benny Newcomb was allegedly cut off by driver Gene Paris. Newcomb pulled his rig up alongside Paris’ truck and opened fire.
“I looked over and he was pointing a gun at me,” said Paris in an interview with KFOR. “I step on my brake and my window explodes.”
Paris was thankfully uninjured and immediately reported the incident to authorities.
Police were able to track down Newcomb fairly quickly since his company’s logo was printed on the side of his truck. They called the company who were able to locate Newcomb using GPS. Using the location provided, they found him at a gas station where he had stopped to eat. When they searched the cab, they found the handgun still inside.
“I just couldn’t believe another professional driver would shoot at me,” said Paris. “It’s amazing to me.”
Newcomb has been charged with shooting with intent to kill and discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
“If traffic gets you that stressed, why would you want to even drive? Seriously,” said Paris.
Next Story: Driver Saves Fellow Trucker By Causing A Crash
Source: kfor
Image Source: sfweekly
Really… I can’t believe this is the first time this has happened . A lot of you out there are in such a hurry to go no where that you cut truckers off all the time . Maybe he had his share of it . I don’t condone it but for every cause there is a reaction .
Remember this people when your driving like a idiot out there . And when I say going no where … It’s just another load . Are you really that desperate to get there ?
A little of courteous driving is appreciated by all!! Shooting someone is only going to cause more misery as the shot driver crashes other drivers in area! Too Bad…
Except that I didn’t cut the man off. When I got over there was at least 200 feet of room and there was another car between him and his truck. When that car got out of the way he got right on my bumper. He was like maybe trying to mate his truck with mine.
no excuse, i know you say you dont condone it but to even try to rationalize it is ridiculous. this guy could have been killed for a minor incident, and by another trucker, this guy should be locked up until his departure. if he can shoot at a person for that no telling the other frivolous things he would try to kill for.
these waste disposal idiots are notorious for aggressive driving and the first to complain when truckers retaliate. it’s ok for them to change lanes w/o signals, to tailgate, zip in/out of traffic. shoot the gap(cut u off). and the nerve of this clown to complain about a professional. mr. where was your professionalism when you cut him off?
I’m going to ask what a thousand other drivers want to ask. Yes, the shooter was nuts and shouldn’t be walking the streets free, but…..Paris, why did you cut him off?? You’re an idiot and shouldn’t be behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle if this is what occurred.
Yep, seems kind of obvious, doesn’t it?
Agree with simpsonteam. I have had many a moron now a days that will cut you off in a heart beat. Some of them have come close to causing an accident. This need for drivers should not include idiots like Paris.
I am not an idiot. I have a clean driving record and am in fact the Safety Director for my company. I wish people would check there facts before they start calling people names. I
I have had just about everything done to me in traffic ,all the years I have been driving, that you can think of. Same stuff different city. When I was younger it would anger me but as you mature as a driver you learn to deal with it. Yeah there a are times I get pissed but never to a point where I want to kill another driver. There is no way to rationalize the reaction of the shooter. I drive in Atlanta traffic everyday so I guess I’m just used to it.
Woooo, a good place to avoid if you want to not have any road rage! I avoid Atlanta and Chicago whenever possible especially in daytime! Kudos to all who have to deal with that everyday.. 🙂
I live near Atl if I don’t need to be their I want go their but the bad thing is it used to be the 4wheelers thst cut us off now its some of these crazy cupcake drivers and yes for this person to shooting @ the driver U KNOW U Cut him OFF
I guess the guy finally just lost it,I get cutoff sometimes 4 or more times in a day,and I don’t understand why these guys are in such a big hurry,its become hazardous to even walk through a truck stop parking lot,because they drive so fast. There are times when I literally have to run to keep from getting hit near the fuel isle. Never thought I would say this,but some of the drivers are worse then the people driving cars.
Wonder if part of the problem might be that a lot of these truck drivers, these days, hadn’t driven anything bigger than a pickup a few months before. This is to say I get a sense that a lot of them are not real experienced.
Well it’s sad that something like this has occurred, I’ve been out here 32 years and I still remember the good old days and to see what’s happening now days in trucking has me ready to hang it up. Dennis Shulaw, aka: Graywolf
Lance,
I feel bad that your family is going through this but, with all due respect, it doesn’t matter what your uncle’s side of the story is. Unless his life is in danger or he is trying to protect someone elses (life), he should not even be AIMING a firearm at somebody…much less actually firing it. As far as stress or anger issue showing up “a long time ago”…not necessarily. Everybody has a breaking point. Maybe this was his. Hopefully, he can get the help he needs.
I totally agree with simpsonteam. Paris must have done something to make him that mad. I think I know what happend. There are idiots out there who really make you want to shoot them.
Great fodder for the anti gun nuts….Incidents like this one will only lead to the disarming of all honest citizens….
People who can’t control themselves shouldn’t be carrying guns or driving big trucks ever…This certainly helps build the image of the crazed gun owner just on the hairy edge of shooting and killing anyone at any moment for the slightest provocation….
Thanks a bunch from all of us mature reasonable law abiding gun owners….
What does the law say about a commercial driver carrying a firearm?
As long as you are following the laws of the state you are in. It is completely legal.
EXACTLY, Steve.
I drive in Houston traffic almost every day. It’s not like the old days anymore. I see truck drivers driving like high school kids every day. I just pour another cup of coffee and keep going.
Every one of us has unintentionally caused another driver (rig or non-rig) to take evasive action
or be ran off the road.
Its not a fun experience. And rarely is it intentional. But I must say, with the number of rigs on the road, these driving offenses are becoming more common.
Some of you guys are really stupid. I bet you all at 1 time or another have unintentionally cut somebody off and or changed lanes really close. Every day is not super trucker day like alot of you pretend to experience.
Yeah right, Mr. Paris. Your innocent victim act doesn’t fly with me. You undoubtedly did something pretty rotten to provoke that kind of response. Of course that doesn’t justify such action, but don’t bother giving us the “I’m a professional” speech.
I like the way posters are are blaming the one shot at. He might have done something dumb and possibly dangerous but no harm was caused. However if the shooter had succeeded who knows how many could have suffered because his lack of control. There can be no excuse for deliberately trying to cause a wreck by killing someone.
I drove for over thirty years, saw stupid driving on a steady basis, but thankfully no-one insane enough to shoot at the driver of a moving truck.
Ok… so Paris is an idiot – but does it really require GUNPLAY like the freakin’ old west? Come on guys – take a dang pill if it’s that bad or better yet…just park you truck and let a REAL professional drive it – the ones who don’t feel the need to carry hand guns in their trucks. I’ve been driving a long time and have never been in a single situation where I thought, “Man, I wish I brought my Smith and Wesson!” NYC – Jersey – Philly – Detroit – South side of Chi Town around Chicago Heights at the rail yards. South side of Atlanta near the airport. Never felt like I needed to have a gun for any reason. Y’all need to grow up and put your big girl panties on!
So, should shake your finger at a criminal until the police show up 2 hrs later? I have the right to protect myself. I plan on going home to my wife and kids with no more holes in me than I came into this world with. I travel with a dog and a revolver. The dog is my alarm and the revolver is my insurance policy. I live by the motto “Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it”.
The only thing saving a lot more truckers from being hijacked, robbed, and assaulted than are, is the fact that the general criminal element out there knows that some percentage of drivers are packing. In a great many cases, this may be perfectly legal depending on the state and local jurisdiction. Drivers, too, may have concealed carry permits that are good in multiple states. But that isn’t a license to use a firearm without justification. No matter what kind of jackass cuts you off, you’re not legally empowered to use a firearm against that jackass unless he’s actually in the process of mortally attacking you and/or threatening you with grievous bodily harm. Again, the rules change with the jurisdiction. If you’re going to arm yourself, I think it’s fine, but you need to know this stuff.
There is a HUGE difference between protecting yourself and firing on a moving vehicle. If someone comes up on you in a truck stop with bad intentions, by all means, blast away. But firing from the cab of a moving vehicle into the cab of another moving vehicle is inexcusable. There is nothing another driver can do that would make endangering the lives of everyone else in the vicinity OK.
Agreed but, Charlie said it was stupid to carry at all. He should ask the widow of the driver killed in Detroit her feelings on the subject. If he feels safe fine. When you take a ccw class they should at least go over eliminating risk (i.e. staying out of high crime areas). Something we can’t always do, therefore that is why you carry. Not to go off on some one no matter how much you may want to do so but, to protect yourself should the situation arise. And even then only as a last resort.
I kind of take exception to that “Paris is an idiot” part. Just saying.
Everybody makes mistakes. I remember cutting a guy coming form a ramp. I apologize, and he waved as nothing happened. But I felt like crap all night.
Fellow trucker, remember we are almost humans, and we can make mistakes.
When you really feel like using a gun on a fellow trucker, or on another road user, that should tell you that it is high time to hang up the keys and call it a career.
This is a sad story. I’m glad I have a camcorder in my truck because there are definitely a lot of assholes out there. I’ve been out here over 40 years and you guys might think I’m crazy but, I love what I’m doing.
The old days we pulled over an had it out on the shoulder….now there not in shape to do that alot have trouble getting in an out of the cab let alone go a few rounds… stick around things are going to get crazy….
Things are just gonna get worse because everyone driving thinks their first no matter where you are , so everyone invest in dash cam so it can take picture before you get ran off the road since other drivers don’t know how to use their mirrors.what would have happened if truck would have crashed no one would have known he got cut off who knows it might have been done to piss off other driver on purpose there s a lot of rude drivers out here now
i’m glad i don’t carry my gun with me,i’d go through a clip a day.
I’m amazed at all the comments trying to deflect blame from “Ben” because the other driver cut him off. Where on America is that a valid reason to shoot at another moving vehicle? If he had hit Paris, this greatly increases the chances of an even deadlier situation on the road because an injured/dead driver would be behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. The whole situate is sad. Dyes drivers cut us off, but no matter what he did (taunting/wreck less behavior) as a driver we have to be above that because keeping those wheels turning is what feeds you and your family.
Bottom line is the vast majority of truckers these days are clowns who drive like 4 wheelers and law enforcement does nothing about it. While shooting at him may have been extreme what are people supposed to do in this day and age just let ignorant fools constantly get away with it? I for one will put people in check if they do that fool stuff around me, cut me off for no reason and I’ll make sure that I spend as much time possible making your day really crappy. I’ll ride beside you and make sure you get boxed in for long periods until I get bored of it then I’ll go up the road and wait for you to come back up in the left lane thinking your going to pass me again then speed up over and over maybe jump in the elft lane and stop your progress. Retribution is really fun especially when you have a fast truck that easily allows you to do it.
All those cb rambos out there……. lol….. this is what MIGHT be on the other end of the mic!!
Lance,
I realize Ben is your Uncle so I am sorry if my comment ends up upsetting you. I don’t care how many times this Paris fella cut your uncle off, how many “birds” he flipped him or how many words he hurled at him (threatening nature or not). Your uncle picked up a loaded firearm, pointed it into a moving vehicle, while he himself was in a moving vehicle, and opened fire on another human being. His actions could have affected FAR more people than just Paris, had he successfully hit his target. Your uncle is a freaking idiot, Sir. He is exactly the type of person that will make it hard for other people to own guns who don’t get trigger happy just because someone pissed them off.
Sure, maybe Paris was driving in a manner he shouldn’t have been and deserves a few charges himself. That, however, doesn’t excuse a thing your uncle did. If he’s in jail, he deserves to be right where he is. Period. I’m so glad that none of my truck driver friends are this stupid. Sheesh.
A little courtesy can go a long ways… I’m waiting for a news report to read about a trucker running morons off the road!!!.Truck drivers used to respect 1 another and talk on CB’s and trucking life was fun until the federal government got involved and F’d it up for everyone! I’ve been driving 25 plus years and all these new ignorant cell phone using GPS directed morons w/ slow trucks won’t move outa the middle lane and are oblivious to everything around them. I really can’t believe how much heavier the traffic is and semi’s still aren’t allowed in the left lane what so ever in most states. A lot of company’s govern their trucks so they are under the speed limit and the rest of us have to deal w/ them drag racing each other because we can’t pass their ass in the left lane. SO YEAH WE DO GET A LITTLE IRRITATED WHEN A FELLOW DRIVER REFUSES TO MOVE OVER. I think a lot of the issue is putting inexperienced people in a truck and sending them on their way. There’s way too many laws for truckers bit there should be a law against impeding traffic.
Well he’s gone for a long time probably 20 yrs…a freind got mad pulled a gun discharged it they charged him with attempted murder he is serving 23 yrs in Florida
I have done many jobs in my life before starting truck driving, and several of those included carrying a firearm in the job description. I have seen things 100 times worse than someone being cut off, and I have yet to draw and fire my weapon at someone without proper justification. Being cut off, flipped off, and/or cussed out is NOT proper justification in ANY way shape or form.
I don’t care how annoyed I get with idiots on the road, I have never even LOOK at my firearms because of them, much less reach for one……….no matter how bad I want too.
All this idiot did was add another nail in the coffin to public perception of both truckers, and firearms owners.
I think if people are going to comment on a story, they should read ALL OF THE COMMENTS before they post so they don’t look like idiots. Just sayin’ mmmk?
No company can make a policy or rule that trumps state or federal law. Therefore it is legal to carry a gun in any truck as long as you abide by the state and federal rules for transporting a firearm. A concealed carry permit holder has better legal authority to carry in most states but as long as you are transporting the firearm unloaded and locked with ammo stored seperately and not immediately accessible from your driver’s seat you can pretty much travel anywhere and be legal. The only thing your company can do is fire you for violating their policy but there is no law against carrying in a truck.
Title 18 U.S.C. 926a: Interstate transportation of firearms
Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console
Your Welcome.
http://www.guns.com/2013/12/20/can-carry-handgun-commercial-vehicle/
Go to this web site for up to date info on carrying in you CMV.
A ways back I was with CFI before the CONWAY crap miles plan. They found my Clock .45 in the cab. They contacted Security. He placed it in his office. Called me. asked me about my history of firearm use. USMC Weapons trainer. Marine Corps Pistol Team blah blah. lots of shooting experience. I said I will need my weapon back before I pack up my truck and head home. He stated I quote. ” The Company has a right to carry for all employees. You were allowed to carry with CFI. He recommend I get my permit to carry. Huh who would have thought bill of rights came through again.. Keep it up right