A Riverdale man was shot three times in Prince George's County early yesterday in what may have been a "road rage" encounter with another motorist, the U.S. Park Police said.
The man, who was hit twice in the back and once in the leg, was in fair condition last night at Prince George's Hospital Center. Lt. Anthony Datcher said the victim was 30 years old, but police did not want to identify him this early in the investigation.
The man told police he was driving his Honda Civic south on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway near Route 32 about 3 a.m. when he pulled up behind a slower-moving, cream- or tan-colored Infiniti G30 with Maryland plates. As he pulled around the Infiniti, the shooting victim said, its driver appeared to flash an obscene gesture.
About 10 minutes later, the driver of the Infinity followed as the Riverdale man turned onto the exit ramp to Route 410. At the stoplight, the Infiniti's driver rolled down his window and fired at least seven shots into the Honda, the victim says.
The victim called 911 from a gas station but hung up before saying anything, which raised questions among detectives about the completeness of his account. It was only when he drove back to his nearby apartment complex that a friend called authorities for help.
The case remains under investigation, and the Park Police are asking witnesses to call Detective Michelle Ludwick at 202-610-8753.
