PROSECUTOR: MAN PULLED GUN IN CASE OF 'ROAD RAGE'

JACKSON -- A Jackson man who pointed a gun at a motorist he claimed was following his car too closely was in Circuit Court Tuesday, and could face up to 5 years in prison, the Cape Girardeau County prosecutor said.

Matthew P. McGill, 21, has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon in connection with a "road rage" incident that occurred in August, said prosecutor Morley Swingle."Every year we have a few road rage cases where someone acted in a violent manner toward another person," Swingle said. "But we don't have so many cases where a weapon is pulled."Charlene James, 29, told the court the confrontation took place while she was driving her 7 and 3-year-old children to daycare and herself to work on Aug. 6.

James was driving her pickup truck on County Road 349 near Bedrock Lane when she came up behind a red Dodge Stealth. She told Judge Michael Bullerdieck that the car stopped suddenly in the middle of the road. Not understanding why the car stopped, James said she began to pull around to pass the Dodge on the left.

As James was less than 20 feet from McGill, he opened his door and stepped out of his car completely except for his right leg. McGill pointed a handgun directly at James, cursed at her and threatened her, James told the court.

James put her pickup in reverse and drove away from McGill.

About 15 minutes after the incident, a deputy from the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's office stopped McGill. A 9 mm Ruger semiautomatic handgun was found in the back seat of the car, along with 10 rounds of ammunition in the glove box, deputy David Craig told the court.

Defense attorney Malcom Montgomery asked James if she had bumped into the back of McGill's car or cursed at him. James said she hadn't done either.

McGill was released from custody after posting a $5,000 bond.