Man Shot While Checking Slashed Tire ID's Disgruntled Co-Worker As Suspect: Report

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — A co-worker has been arrested in connection to the shooting of a 28-year-old driver on Interstate 95 who remains in critical condition.

Court documents disclosed that the shooting victim, Ronald Victor Garcia-Rodriguez, was on his way to work, discovered he had a flat tire and pulled over on the shoulder of I-95 just north of the Howard County line. When he got out of his vehicle to check his tire, 46-year-old Kevin Gross - his co-worker - pulled up behind him wearing a mask over his mouth, documents said.

Gross told the victim he must have hit a pothole or something to get a flat, but the victim saw that it had been slashed. That's when Gross pulled out a gun and shot him several times, documents said. Charging documents stated both were assistant managers at Planet Aid in Elkridge. Gross had recently been demoted and the victim told police when he was questioned after the shooting that he thought that incident had something to do with the shooting. Police arrested Gross on his way to work Tuesday morning.

According to charging documents, Garcia-Rodriguez called 911 himself and Maryland State Police found him walking along the shoulder of I-95 after being shot seven times in the arm and torso.

Charging documents state that Gross told police he waited outside the victim's apartment because he wanted to fight him. He then followed the victim as he left the apartment and followed him in his vehicle. Gross has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and assault charges. He's being held without bail.

Anyone who may have been on I-95 in that area around 4:30 a.m. Monday is asked to call Maryland State Police at 410-379-9700.