Texas Road Rage Horror: 10-Year-Old Girl Shot on Way to School After Mom Honks at Aggressive Driver
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — A routine school morning turned into a nightmare after a road rage confrontation ended with a 10-year-old girl being shot while sitting in the back seat of her family’s vehicle, according to San Antonio police.
Honking Sparks Violent Escalation
Authorities say the shooting happened Friday morning as the child’s parents were driving her to school. The incident began when a man later identified as 41-year-old Bryan Arceo allegedly backed out of a driveway aggressively, prompting the girl’s mother to briefly honk her horn.
Police say that simple honk set off a violent chain of events.
According to the San Antonio Police Department, Arceo pulled alongside the family’s minivan at a red light and fired a 9mm handgun toward the vehicle, striking the child who was seated in the back.
Child Shot While Parents Looked On in Shock
The girl’s father, Jason Gates, said the horn was used for only a few seconds.
“My wife was on her horn no more than three seconds,” Gates told local media.
Moments later, chaos erupted.
“My wife looks at my daughter and says, ‘Hey, did you get shot?’” Gates recalled. “My daughter said no — and then I opened the door a little bit.”
It was only then that the parents realized their daughter had, in fact, been shot.
‘Heard a Pop,’ Ex-Wife Told Police
Court documents reveal Arceo’s ex-wife was sitting in the vehicle at the time of the shooting — along with their own child — as they were also on the way to a school drop-off.
She reportedly told police she “looked away and heard a pop” after Arceo pointed the gun at the family’s minivan. Investigators allege he racked the slide of the handgun before pulling the trigger.
After the shooting, Arceo did not stop to render aid. Police say he drove away, dropped his ex-wife at her workplace, then took his own child to school before being tracked down and arrested.
Child Hospitalized With Life-Threatening Injuries
The 10-year-old victim was rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and underwent emergency surgery. Her family later confirmed she is expected to survive.
“She’s doing great,” her father said following the operation.
Still, the emotional toll remains heavy.
“I told my wife, ‘What are we going to do with a bullet hole in the side of the car?’” Gates said. “She told me, ‘I don’t want the car anymore.’”
Charges Filed, Bond Set
Arceo was booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center and charged with aggravated assault for recklessly discharging a firearm and child endangerment.
Police confirmed that multiple children were placed in danger during the incident — including Arceo’s own child, who was in his vehicle at the time of the shooting.
He has since been granted bond set at $375,000 and is scheduled to appear in court on April 30.
Community Outrage and Road Rage Warnings
The case has sparked renewed outrage and concern over road rage incidents escalating into gun violence — especially when children are caught in the middle.
Law enforcement officials are urging drivers to disengage during confrontations and remember that even brief moments of anger can lead to irreversible consequences.
What do you think — should road rage shootings carry harsher penalties when children are involved? Share your thoughts and stay updated on breaking crime and safety stories at CabarrusWeekly.com.
