Man arrested in road rage shooting says he wasn’t the original aggressor, wants other driver to face charges
https://www.click2houston.com/news/loca ... e-charges/
HOUSTON – Community activists say there are two sides in regards to the road rage shooting that happened on Friday, Sept. 30 in southwest Houston.
“There should not have been just one arrest,” said activist Dr. Candice Matthews.” It should have been two.”
Chris Harclerode said on Sept. 25, James Young sped up behind him in a truck while driving westbound on the Westpark Tollway.
“I saw him approaching pretty fast in the rearview mirror, and I tried to get over, but traffic was all around,” Harclerode told KPRC2 in the first interview.
He said when he did exit the highway, Young got out of his car and fired four shots.
Young was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, his bond was initially set at $100,000, but then it was dropped to $25,000.
Young, who is now out on bond, says although he’s not a victim, neither is Harclerode.
“He was charged because of what he did,” said activist Quanell X. “But why in the hell was the white guy not charged for what he did on that video?”
Young’s wife, who was in the car when the altercation happened, also shot a video. Young said the video shows Harclerode was the initial aggressor.
“He brakes checked me, sped up on the highway, the open lane of the highway,” Young described.
He continued and said as he sped up, Harclerode brake checked him again.
“As I tried to remove myself from the situation, the Tesla constantly corners me. I see an out to take the exit, and as I go to take the exit, the Tesla comes two or three lanes over,” Young said.
KPRC2 went back to speak to Harclerode who says his video shows he was slowing down for traffic.
“I don’t feel like there’s anything I could have done,” he explained. “There’s traffic in front of me, I couldn’t accelerate at this point. I couldn’t get over into the right lane or slow lane”
He said Young’s video only shows a portion of the encounter.
“Once he did get to my side, that’s when he had the window down and I was in fear for my life, and I kind of (went into) defensive mode, at that point,” Harclerode said.
Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office said they turned in both videos to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
“If you’re going to charge someone, charge everybody that’s involved and hold them accountable equally,” Matthews said.
