In a late evening investigation on July 3, 2023, the Hopkins County Sheriff's Office Deputies and Cumby Police Department Officers responded to multiple calls reporting a road rage incident on Interstate Highway 30 in Hopkins County. The incident escalated to shots being fired, prompting law enforcement to take swift action.
At approximately 8:15 pm, a Cumby Police Officer pulled over a vehicle driven by Antonio Ortiz, a 20-year-old resident of Duncanville, Texas. The vehicle matched the description provided by witnesses of the road rage incident. During the encounter, Ortiz confessed to his involvement in the incident.
According to Ortiz's statement, he was driving with his friends when occupants of a truck began throwing objects at them on the interstate. The situation escalated as Ortiz and his friends pursued the truck for several miles along the highway. In a shocking admission, Ortiz revealed that he had a pistol in his possession. He admitted to pointing the weapon out of the vehicle window and firing it into the air while trailing the truck.
In a cooperative gesture, Ortiz granted deputies permission to search his vehicle, leading to the discovery of the firearm. The pistol was located in the back-of-seat pouch of the front passenger seat. Notably, the magazine was found directly behind the driver's seat, loaded but missing two rounds. Ortiz admitted to removing the magazine from the pistol.
Antonio Ortiz was subsequently arrested at the scene and booked into the Hopkins County Jail. He now faces the charge of Deadly Conduct, a third-degree felony. The bond set for Ortiz amounts to $15,000.
