ASHEBORO N.C. – A driver is facing felony charges after police say while intoxicated, he fired a shot at the victim’s car before ramming it several feet.
On January 13th, 2023, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to an incident on US 220
business just south of McDowell Road after a caller reported an armed person.
Upon arrival, deputies met with the caller who said he had been the victim of a road rage incident where his vehicle was shot at before being rammed by another driver.
According to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office, the caller reported that while traveling southbound on I-73, the suspect vehicle passed him at a high rate of speed. Both vehicles exited the interstate onto McDowell Road and turned left headed toward US 220 Business. The suspect vehicle slowed to 5-miles-per-hour and the caller passed the suspect vehicle on McDowell Road.
According to police, upon turning south onto US 220 Business, the suspect fired a shot at the caller’s vehicle striking it from behind. The caller reported stopping on the roadway and fleeing from the vehicle before the suspect rammed the vehicle pushing it 10-15 feet down the road and then fleeing the scene.
During the investigation, the caller and a witness to the incident reported seeing the suspect vehicle drive by the scene.
Deputies were able to locate the suspect vehicle on McDowell Road and conducted a traffic stop; the driver was identified by police as Christopher Michael Lee.
The NC Highway Patrol responded to investigate the vehicle accident and responded to the traffic stop to investigate the driver who was suspected of driving while intoxicated. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, a loaded handgun was located by police in the passenger seat. Lee was arrested by the Highway Patrol for DWI.
Lee was charged by the Sheriff’s Deputy for felony discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling/moving vehicle, misdemeanor hit/run leave scene property damage, misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon, misdemeanor possession of marijuana up to ½ oz. He was issued a $50,000 secured bond and his first appearance was set for January 17, 2023, in Randolph County District Court.
Christopher Michael Lee
- DWI
- Felony discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling/moving vehicle
- Misdemeanor hit/run leave scene property damage
- Misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon
- Misdemeanor possession of marijuana up to ½ oz
$50,000 secured bond