Road Rage Gunfire Leads To Speedy Arrest Of BMW Driver: HPD

HARRISON, NY — A Port Chester driver has been arrested after firing a gun during a road rage incident on Wednesday, Harrison police said today.

The incident began shortly before 5 p.m., when a husband and wife reported that a blue BMW blocked their car as they attempted to make a lane change while driving east on Westchester Avenue, near the Hutchinson River Parkway. The victims said the BMW pulled alongside them and the driver cursed and yelled racist slurs at them. At Purchase Street, the BMW again pulled alongside their car and the driver pointed a loaded handgun at them before the victims were able to drive away.

Harrison police said the driver, later identified as Jarrell Fortson, is accused of firing the gun in the air before driving away.

Police officers immediately began a search for the BMW. Investigators soon learned that their suspect lived on King Street in Port Chester. Harrison plainclothes officers arrived at the home just as Fortson was getting out of the car in his driveway.

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The police officers recovered an illegal, loaded 9 mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine after arresting the 35-year-old outside his home.

Fortson was charged with felony criminal possession of a weapon and felony reckless endangerment. He is also facing charges of menacing.

Chief John Vasta said the encounter was frightening for the victims and put the public at risk. The chief commended his officers for their swift work in identifying a suspect, locating him quickly and recovering the weapon.

The incident marked the second time in as many weeks that Harrison police officers removed an illegal handgun from the streets. On Feb. 21, officers arrested a Mount Vernon man and confiscated a stolen, fully loaded handgun after the man fled from a traffic stop on Westchester Avenue and rammed a patrol car in an attempt to escape.