John O'Banion
Wolf Creek – An Alabama man is facing charges when a road rage incident escalated to gunfire between Stecoah and Wolf Creek on Friday.
Graham County Sheriff Jerry Crisp said 71-year-old John O’Banion of Wetumpka, Ala., was charged with discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle on a public highway. He was released after securing $75,000 bond the next day.
Crisp said a couple from Bryson City – whom he did not identify – had bought a car in Knoxville, Tenn., and were driving back to Bryson City in separate cars when they passed a motorcycle trike operated by O’Banion on N.C. Hwy. 28 – around the old Stecoah Diner – at about 6:20 p.m.
O’Banion followed the couple closely, riding the bumper of the trailing vehicle before drawing a pistol and shooting a bullet into the back of the car, Crisp said. The bullet traveled through the trunk and came to a stop in the rear seat upholstery, Crisp said.
All three vehicles pulled over to the side of the highway, and one of the drivers disarmed the gunman and called 911.
O’Banion told law enforcement that he was firing a warning shot.
There were no injuries reported.