MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Two people were shot on I-77 South at the Brawley School Road Exit in Mooresville in what appears to be a driving-related shooting Sunday afternoon.
A spokesperson for the town of Mooresville said one of the victims was transported to a local hospital and one was ultimately airlifted to Charlotte.
“We do not have credible information on the suspect vehicle at this time, but it is an active investigation and more information will be shared when available,” the spokesperson told Channel 9 in an email around 6 p.m. Sunday.
Based on video from North Carolina Department of Transportation cameras, the shooting appears to have occurred at the beginning of the Exit 35 off-ramp in the I-77 southbound lanes.
At one point, first responders said to each other over their radios that it appeared to be road rage.
“Being told by a witness this vehicle was involved in some kind of road rage on (Interstate) 77 heading south, involving a red pickup,” scanner traffic indicated. “If you can (Be On The Lookout) that out to agencies south of us, please.”
Several comments on Channel 9’s Facebook page claiming to be from the victims’ family and their friends refuted those reports, saying it was not road rage.
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Jo Fetzer, a driver and parent, found herself delayed for nearly 3 hours with her 1-year-old and 3-year-old children in the backseat.
Fetzer told Channel 9 her family had just left their Statesville home, headed for Mooresville, when the interstate became a crime scene.
“It was just supposed to be a quick trip; my kids were gonna get some books and then get back home,” Fetzer said of their initial plans.
She recounted the extensive delay, stating, “We were in traffic from 5:30 p.m., and then we got off the exit at 8:10 p.m.”
During the standstill, Fetzer said, “We watched the same episode of Bluey on repeat so I was a little crazy.”
Fetzer described the experience as frustrating, noting, “Some people went through the little median, and I was thinking bout it.”
Despite the inconvenience, she emphasized the gravity of the situation beyond her personal delay.
“I might be in the car for 3 hours and a hundred other people on the road, but this is someone’s worst day,” Fetzer added.
Law enforcement at one point asked to check surveillance video along the highway to find a specific vehicle.
“Can we get somebody to start checking the Flock cameras on the interstate for a red pickup truck?” an officer could be heard on the police scanner.
In this case, Flock cameras have been unable to lead police to a suspect so far.
Police in Mooresville blocked all lanes of Interstate 77 South for a time, but the road reopened.
Channel 9 asked a spokesperson for Mooresville police for an update on Monday afternoon, but they didn’t release any details.