A Missouri motorcyclist is facing a felony charge after authorities say a road rage encounter escalated when he allegedly pulled a handgun during a confrontation with a family in a passenger vehicle. (ABC17NEWS)
According to investigators, 60-year-old Robert Riggs of Cole Camp was charged with unlawful use of a weapon following an incident Monday in Stover, Missouri.
Court documents allege the family attempted to pass Riggs and another motorcyclist, but Riggs would not allow them to get by. After the vehicle eventually completed the pass, investigators say Riggs rode alongside the family’s vehicle and displayed a handgun. The family told deputies the firearm was pointed at them before they drove to the Cole Camp Police Department to report the incident. (ABC17NEWS)
When questioned by law enforcement, Riggs reportedly claimed the family’s vehicle had nearly struck him while attempting to pass and that oncoming traffic made the maneuver unsafe. He admitted pulling out the handgun but denied pointing it at anyone, allegedly telling investigators he simply “got his point across.” (ABC17NEWS)
Police say another motorist who witnessed the encounter helped identify Riggs.
Riggs was arrested, booked into the Morgan County Jail, and later posted a $10,000 bond. A court hearing is scheduled for July 21. (ABC17NEWS)
Road rage incidents involving motorcycles can escalate quickly, but displaying or pointing a firearm during a traffic dispute can carry serious criminal consequences, even when the parties disagree about how the confrontation began. Riders are reminded that the safest course of action is to disengage from aggressive drivers and report dangerous behavior to law enforcement whenever possible.