Man charged after road rage pursuit leads to shooting in north St. Louis

ST. LOUIS – A Florissant man was charged after a road rage pursuit ended with a shooting in a north St. Louis neighborhood.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s probable cause statement, the shooting happened on July 19 in the O’Fallon neighborhood, between West Florissant and Warne Avenues.

The pursuit started in the vicinity of Adelaide Avenue and Interstate 70 after the victim sideswiped the suspect’s car and left the scene. Police say William Eberhart, 39, then allegedly began chasing the victim’s vehicle.

According to authorities, the Real Time Crime Center captured Eberhart following the victim’s vehicle close behind, travelling westbound on West Florissant Avenue.

When the victim tried to make a turn going southbound toward Warne, police say Eberhart made a sharp turn, cutting the victim off and striking his vehicle.

Police say Eberhart then accelerated his vehicle and pushed the victim’s vehicle into Warne Avenue, out of the view of a camera.

Another camera angle saw Eberhart exit his vehicle and run out of the view of the camera again until he was found holding onto the doorframe of the driver’s side of the victim’s car, investigators say.

When the victim’s vehicle entered the intersection of West Florissant and Warne, investigators say Eberhart fell off the victim’s vehicle and was allegedly seen running back to his vehicle holding a firearm.

Police say shortly after, the victim’s son made the call to report that his father had been shot in the head. The victim was then rushed to the hospital to receive treatment.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office charged Eberhart with first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of armed criminal action. Eberhart is being held without bond. He will next appear in court on July 29 for a detention hearing.

The condition of the victim is unknown at this time.

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