A road rage incident in California ended in gunfire when two men were killed while young children watched the horrific incident from a car.
Johnathan McConnell, 38, of Corona, and Aaron Harris, 37, of Highland, were involved in a violent confrontation that initially began as a hit-and-run on the 210 Freeway before ending tragically in the parking lot of a bar, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 8 p.m. Saturday, McConnell was weaving in and out of lanes on a motorcycle when he collided with a sedan driven by Harris.
Harris followed the motorcyclist into the parking lot, while his two children, ages 2 and 5, rode in the backseat. The two men fatally shot each other.
“It could have been incredibly simple. Unfortunately, we have two people who lost their lives,” said Mara Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Abc 7.
Johnathan McConnell, 38, of Corona, and Aaron Harris, 37, of Highland, shot and killed each other in a parking lot outside Joy’s Lounge bar (pictured) on Saturday after crashing into each other on the freeway.
Harris (pictured) followed the motorcyclist into the parking lot while her two children, ages two and five, rode in the backseat.
Harris’ children were not physically injured, but a man at the scene was wounded after being shot in the hand.
At the time of the accident, instead of stopping after hitting the sedan, McConnell continued driving.
Once he arrived at Joy’s Bar and Lounge on Baseline Street, McConnell “met with several people he knew” in the parking lot.
Harris soon pulled into the same parking lot after following McConnell off the highway.
The father then began yelling at McConnell as the two became “confrontational,” Rodriguez said.
“Both were armed and a shootout ensued and both were killed at the end of the night,” he added.
When officers arrived at the scene they attempted to save the men before they were taken to hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
When officers arrived at the scene they attempted to save the men before they were rushed to hospital where they were later pronounced dead.
Images from the grim scene showed crime scene investigators cordoning off the parking lot with yellow tape.
TO GoFundMe Page It was created by Harris’s sister, Crystal, to raise money for his funeral.
“My brother was goofy, but also a great father, family man and always willing to help if needed,” Crystal said.
“This incident has left our family hurt and saddened by their loss.”
Other friends and family of Harris shared their grief as his cousin Quinten Carr told KTLA: “He was a loving father, a cousin, a brother, a friend.”
“He was a happy person and the life of the party. He definitely made everyone laugh.”
Other loved ones took to Facebook and honored the late father.
“I wish I could go back to this day… I was on the phone with you when you posted this… I’m lost here bro,” one said on a post Harris made the morning he died.
Another said: “No Aaron Harris, I will miss you so much.”
McConnell has not yet been photographed. DailyMail.com has contacted the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office.
Harris’ sister, Crystal, set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for his funeral. Her sister described him as a “family man.” (Pictured: Harris and his family)
Harris’ cousin, Quinten Carr, said he was “a playful person and the life of the party.”
On May 31, a road rage dispute between two men outside Los Angeles International Airport left an elderly woman unconscious on the ground and in critical condition.
Gruesome surveillance footage showed the victim checking her luggage on the sidewalk as the two fighting men ran towards where she was standing.
As the men ran off the sidewalk into the street during the fight, one of them is seen punching the woman in the head, knocking her unconscious.
Officials told KTLA the woman was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.
She has since recovered and been discharged from the hospital.
California recently became one of the worst states in the country for road rage, according to Forbes Magazine.
He ranked third (47.5%) for being cut off by others, fourth (32%) for being insulted, and seventh (60.5%) for tailgating.
California also has the eighth-highest percentage (11%) of drivers who say another person sharing the road has gotten out of their vehicle to fight or yell at them.