A **65-year-old man**, identified as **Ronald Gilbert Jr.**, has been formally charged in connection with a **road rage shooting** that left one person critically injured in **Lawrence, Kansas**, back in **September**, according to authorities. Prosecutors announced this week that Gilbert faces charges of **attempted murder** and **aggravated battery
following a monthslong investigation into the violent confrontation that turned a routine drive into a life-altering tragedy.The incident occurred on **September 22** near the intersection of **23rd Street and Haskell Avenue**, when two vehicles became involved in a heated exchange of aggressive driving and gestures.
Witnesses reported that both drivers pulled over to the shoulder, where the argument escalated into gunfire. Responding officers found a man suffering from a **critical gunshot wound** inside one of the vehicles. He was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery and has since been recovering.
Authorities said that Gilbert fled the scene immediately after the shooting but was later identified through **traffic camera footage, eyewitness accounts, and forensic evidence** recovered from his vehicle. He was taken into custody without incident at his Lawrence residence earlier this week and is currently being held at the **Douglas County Jail** pending arraignment.
Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart commended investigators for their persistence in solving the case, emphasizing that “acts of violence on our roadways will not be tolerated.” The chief also urged drivers to de-escalate conflicts and contact authorities rather than take matters into their own hands.
Court documents reveal that prosecutors will seek a **high bond** given the severity of the charges and Gilbert’s alleged use of a firearm in a public setting. The case has reignited community conversations about **gun violence, anger management, and road safety**, issues that continue to plague Kansas and the nation as a whole.
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