A 19-year-old passenger who was riding in a semi is recovering from what police are calling a random drive-by shooting on a highway in Tulsa.
Tulsa police say a car driving on U.S. Highway 169 northbound between 21st and 31st rolled up next to an 18-wheeler and opened fire Wednesday afternoon.
Police say the rounds didn’t hit the passenger but the broken glass injured him and sent the passenger to the hospital. A check with police says the victim will suffer non-life threatening injuries.
FOX23’s Abbie Alford talked to driver’s who hit that stretch of road everyday and are beefing up their protection as they hit the road for the holiday.
Tulsa police say they do not know if this was an act of road rage or mischief but believe it to be random drive-by shooting.
When driver Sandy Dabney heard about the suspected drive-by shooting that happened on her daily work route on the highway she says she was freaked.
"Everyday I take 169, everyday but when they announced it over the radio I decided I would just take the streetway," says Dabney. "I want to be safe this holiday."
However, driver Cheryl Payne and her cousin Rey Sharp say they’ll take the risk but with caution.
"I have to go that way to go home anyway so I don't have a choice," says Payne.
Police say whoever pointed a gun at a semi on Highway 169 and opened fire was brazen. Payne says she hopes whomever she’s sharing the road with doesn’t end hurting her on the road.
"It doesn't surprise me because the way the world is today everybody is doing a lot of crazy stuff. It doesn't surprise me,” says Payne. "I probably would have wrecked I would be so scared."
Other drivers say this is a scary reminder to be a little nicer on the road this holiday.
"I am in a hurry but I try not to rush anybody," Brent Jacox.
Police say they believe the suspect is a man riding in a Jeep.
They say victims in the semi told them they do not have Tulsa connections.
This isn’t the first incident of a random highway shooting in Tulsa.
In April and June of 2005 there were a string of unsolved shootings along Green Country highways.
No one was ever arrested and no one was ever killed.
Five SUV’s were shot along the Creek Turnpike between 161st E. Avenue and E. 51st Street S.
Then in July of that year there were shootings along the Broken Arrow Expressway between Utica and Harvard, I-244 at 33rd W. Avenue and the 2800 Block of U.S. Highway 75.
If you have any information about these unsolved shootings or the recent highway drive-by shooting call Crime Stoppers at (918) 596-COPS (2677) or text a tip to “CRIMES” (274637) and begin your message with “TIP918” or you can submit a tip online at www.tipsubmit.com. Remember you never have to give your name and your tip could lead to a cash reward.
