GADSDEN, Ala. — A quiet afternoon in Gadsden erupted into chaos on Tuesday when a road rage incident turned violent. At approximately 3:17 p.m., gunfire shattered the calm at the intersection of Rainbow Drive and Lakewood Drive. Responding officers discovered a woman with gunshot wounds, her injuries thankfully non-life-threatening, but the drama was far from over.
The suspect, Tommy Junior Smith of Oxford, allegedly fired from his Jeep truck before making a daring escape toward I-759. The Gadsden Police Department swiftly issued a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert, setting off a high-stakes pursuit involving multiple law enforcement agencies. The chase ended when Rainbow City Police executed a textbook traffic stop, apprehending Smith without further incident.
Charged with first-degree assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle, Smith now faces the long arm of justice. The Gadsden Police Department extended its gratitude to the Rainbow City Police Department and other agencies for their swift action in this high-octane episode.
Authorities assured residents that this was an isolated incident, urging calm in the wake of the day’s events. The investigation continues as detectives piece together the motives behind this roadside showdown.