MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man is facing assault charges after police say he rammed and disabled his ex-girlfriend’s car on the interstate and fired several shots at her.
Randy Johnson, 24, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault following the incident Monday near I-240 and Crump.
Johnson was also treated for a gunshot wound to the hand.
The victim told police she pulled up to her apartment building with a male friend and noticed Johnson, the father of her child, parked in front of her building. She said Johnson saw the man inside her car and became enraged.
The victim said she left the apartment complex, and Johnson started following her. She said he began ramming the back of her Nissan Altima when she got on the interstate while pointing a gun at her. She said Johnson also threatened to kill her.
Police said Johnson rammed the Altima so many times that it broke down. The victim said Johnson got out of his vehicle, broke the rear passenger window of her car, and fired three to four shots inside her car.
Investigators said the friend with the victim returned fire, hitting Johnson in the hand.
The shooting is part of the more than 30 police says that have played out on Memphis interstates so far this year. The violence is familiar to experts too.
“One of the most dangerous times for a victim of domestic violence is actually after the relationship ends and so whether or not they choose to find a new partner, the former partner often has ongoing jealousy or control issues and so one way for them to maintain control is to use violence against the victim or the new partner,” said Sandy Bromley, Executive Director of the Division of Community Services for the Shelby County Government.
There are places for victims to get help including the Family Safety Center and the Shelby County Crime Victims and Rape Crisis Center.
“But then there are a lot of grassroots organizations, folks in neighborhoods, certain apartment complexes who are doing really great work to help victims of domestic violence, trying to escape violent relationships but also rebuild their lives,” Bromley said.
Johnson is locked up on a $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Wednesday.
