Woman shot in road rage incident while delivering newspapers in Pierce County
A 61-year-old woman delivering newspapers was shot in the shoulder early Thursday during a road rage incident in the Summit area, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.
The confrontation took place about 5:15 a.m. outside an apartment complex on a dead end road in the 8100 block of 50th Avenue East.
The woman said she noticed a sedan following her as she delivered newspapers along Canyon Road East, then heard someone yell at her vehicle when she made a stop.
When she looked behind her, the woman saw someone standing near her Toyota Prius.
“The suspect then fired a round through the rear passenger window of the victim’s” vehicle, the Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
Detectives said the sedan driver was upset because the delivery woman was driving slowly.
“He lost his temper and came back around with a mask on and shot her,” sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said.
After being shot in the shoulder, the woman drove to the nearest gas station for help.
She was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries.
No arrest has been made.
The shooter was described as a white man in his 20s or 30s with a medium build. He was wearing a green bandana over his face, a dark colored jacket and dark pants.
Rebecca Poynter, publisher of The News Tribune, issued a statement regarding the shooting.
“We were deeply disturbed to learn that (a newspaper carrier) was shot this morning, but we’re relieved to hear that she is expected to recover from this attack,” Poynter said. “We admire her strength and bravery in driving to find help and wish her a very speedy recovery. (She) and the company she works for provide both The News Tribune and our subscribers with a great service.”
The woman works for Daybreak Delivery, which contracts with The News Tribune to deliver its print edition.
Detectives are asking anyone in that area who has security cameras to check for footage of the victim’s silver Toyota Prius or a white sedan between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.
This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 7:11 AM.
