WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — A Manchester man was arrested after Connecticut State Police say he displayed a firearm Thursday morning during a road rage incident in West Hartford.
Kewon Rondell Banks, 32, is charged with first-degree threatening – display of a firearm and second-degree breach of peace – violent/threatening behavior.
State police from Troop H – Hartford say they received a report from a driver on Interstate 84 Westbound near Exit 43 around 7:22 a.m. Thursday regarding another driver pulling out a gun.
When a responding trooper met with the complainant to begin investigating, the complainant said they were driving in the left lane when a Nissan Altima allegedly weaved in and out of the travel lanes before unsafely merging into the left lane in front of them.
The complainant said when they honked their horn, the male driver of the Altima slammed his brakes. The complainant made a hand gesture to the Altima’s driver, who proceeded to point a gun towards them through the driver’s side window, state police say.
The complainant said they distanced themselves from the Altima to avoid further conflict, but the Altima’s driver merged into the center lane and motioned with his hand to suggest they position their vehicle alongside his, according to state police.
The complainant further distanced their vehicle from the Altima, and the Altima continued driving on I-84 West. State police say the complainant gave the trooper the accused man’s vehicle description, license plate, a description of the driver and a description of the firearm.
The trooper determined that the Altima was a rental vehicle, and the renter was listed as Banks. State police responded to Banks’ Manchester residence but did not find him there.
Someone who was home called Banks so that troopers could speak to him. During the conversation, Banks said he was at work but agreed to meet with the troopers.
The two parties met shortly after, according to state police, who say Banks admitted to using his firearm during the road rage incident because he thought the other driver might be reaching for something. Banks’ gun was still in the vehicle and was later found and seized as evidence.
Following the investigation, Banks was arrested and taken to Troop H, where he was charged. State police say Banks was released on a $5,000 cash/surety bond and will be arraigned in Hartford Superior Court on Oct. 9.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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