Gainesville Police have charged Steven Dallas Cooper, 26, of Lula, in a shooting incident that took place along Georgia 365 Wednesday morning.
According to a social media post, Cooper was engaged in road rage with another subject when he began firing a handgun near YMCA Drive. He shot the weapon multiple times, hitting the other driver, Michael Charles Gabriel. Gabriel continued south toward Gainesville until he stopped and called the police. He reportedly received minor injuries.
During the course of the shooting, Cooper also hit Paula Blackwell, 65, who was driving on the roadway as well. She was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Cooper has allegedly been charged with aggravated battery, criminal attempt to commit murder, criminal damage to property, reckless conduct and aggravated assault. Officials said Cooper also had a two-year-old child in the vehicle with him during the incident.
Cooper is being held in the Hall County Jail. The case remains under investigation.
As of 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning:
Two people were injured in a shooting in Gainesville Wednesday morning in what police have described as a road rage incident, and a suspect is in custody.
Gainesville Police Lt. Kevin Holbrook said the incident happened at about 8:30 a.m. on Georgia 365 southbound at YMCA Drive.
Holbrook said one elderly woman was shot and was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Another person who had been shot was located on Jesse Jewell Parkway.
"It appears that the shooter and at least one other party was involved in the road rage incident," Holbrook said. "It's believed that, unfortunately, the elderly female was caught in the crossfire and received gunshot wounds."
The two people who were shot suffered minor injuries. Holbrook was unable to disclose any information on why the second person who was shot in the incident was on Jesse Jewell Parkway.
Police were able to quickly arrest a suspect in the shooting. Holbrook was unable to provide details on the suspect's identity.
