20-year-old man arrested in connection with an incident of aggression while driving

SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas – A 20-year-old man was arrested on attempted felony charges following an alleged traffic crash in Siloam Springs on June 7, court records show.

In addition to the attempted capital murder charge, Darius Gonzalez was booked into the Benton County Jail on two counts of careless discharge of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm into a vehicle, two counts of terroristic threatening, aggravated assault and speeding. He is being held on $250,000 bail.

According to the probable cause affidavit, police responded to a 911 call about shots fired on East University Street in Siloam Springs on June 6. When officers arrived at the scene, they interviewed the alleged victims of the incident.

The two people allegedly told police they were pulling out of a parking space to leave Dollar General when a purple Scion sped through the parking lot and nearly hit them. Police later identified Gonzalez as the driver of the Scion.

The driver of the other car told police he gave Gonzalez the middle finger “for his reckless driving,” the report said.

He then told police that Gonzalez turned onto a southbound street that he also had to take “because it was the way to his residence,” the report said. When Gonzalez turned onto another street, the driver said he gave him the middle finger again and then dropped off his passenger.

After the man dropped off his passenger, Gonzalez reportedly pulled up next to him. According to the report, the two began yelling and cursing at each other, and Gonzalez allegedly pointed a gun at the driver. The passenger then approached Gonzalez and told him to “fuck off and leave it alone.” The driver and passenger told police they heard Gonzalez fire two shots, but did not see the shots.

According to the report, the driver tried to find his passenger to make sure he was unharmed. By the time they confirmed both were OK, Gonzalez had already fled the scene of the accident.

After looking at traffic cameras, police were reportedly able to link the Scion to Gonzalez. On June 7, police stopped Gonzalez for speeding and subsequently took him into custody for questioning.

During questioning by police, Gonzalez reportedly admitted to driving through the Dollar General parking lot. He also said the driver gave him the middle finger twice and began to follow him. Gonzalez told police he decided to turn around and follow them to “see what their problem was,” the report said.

Gonzalez told police he and the driver “exchanged words” and the passenger ran toward them and threw objects at his car, later breaking his windshield, the report said.

“Gonzalez stated he was scared, didn’t know if they had weapons, and pointed his gun out the window,” the report said.

He reportedly admitted to police that he fired two shots into the ground.

Gonzalez is scheduled to appear in court on July 15.

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