A road rage incident along the U.S. Highway 64 bypass in Pittsboro on Thursday evening led to one man arrested and charged, according to authorities.

A release from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office on Friday detailed the encounter that ended with 22-year-old James Routh of Wilmington being charged. According to investigators, sheriff’s deputies responded around 6 p.m. to a report of a driver shooting at another vehicle while traveling westbound on the highway bypass near Exit 385. The victim’s description led the sheriff’s office to alert the Siler City Police Department, which located vehicle and stopped the driver later in the evening.

The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office release said during the traffic stop, deputies recovered a handgun from the Routh’s vehicle and took him into custody without incident.

Routh faces charges of misdemeanor assault by pointing a gun, misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon and a violation the state’s open container law for alcohol. The local magistrate issued the Wilmington resident an unsecured bond — meaning he will pay a financial penalty if he does not appear for his Chatham County court date set for May 27.

In addition to calling 911 to report road rage incidents or unsafe driving on state highways, motorists can dial *HP (*47) to alert the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Featured photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.

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