I-15 Road Rage Shooting Suspect Held On $1 Million Bail

BANNING, CA — A 26-year-old motorist suspected of shooting at the driver and passenger of another vehicle during a road rage confrontation on Interstate 15 was being held Friday on $1 million bail.

Salvador Flamenco Saavedra of Rancho Cucamonga was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside Thursday on suspicion of attempted murder, firearm assault, brandishing a gun not in self-defense and vandalism.

According to the California Highway Patrol, about 10:35 p.m. Wednesday, Saavedra was going northbound on I-15 in Jurupa Valley in his Nissan Frontier pickup when he allegedly became enraged with the driver of another vehicle, whose identity was not disclosed.

What sparked the suspect's anger was not specified.

"During the altercation, (Saavedra) ... fired an unknown number of rounds," CHP Officer Javier Navarro said. "The suspect then fled the scene northbound. Neither occupant in the other vehicle was injured in the shooting."

The extent of damage to the car was not detailed.

CHP officers were able to obtain the license plate on the Nissan in the ensuing investigation, culminating in a search warrant being served at Saavedra's residence on Chardoney Way Thursday afternoon, according to Navarro.

He said that officers seized "a pellet rifle and a replica pellet handgun in a holster."

Navarro did not say whether the rifle was the weapon used in the alleged attack.
Saavedra was taken into custody without incident.

"The CHP takes aggressive driving and road rage seriously and will actively investigate all crimes occurring on our freeways," Riverside CHP Commander Levi Miller said.

Background information on the suspect was unavailable.

Anyone with information regarding the alleged attack was asked to contact the Riverside CHP office at 951-637-8000.