Inset: William McGinty (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The Scottsdale, Arizona, intersection near Loop 101 where the fatal road-rage shooting occurred (Google Maps).
An Arizona man accused of killing another driver in a road-rage confrontation near a highway is claiming he acted in self-defense, according to authorities.
William McGinty, 43, faces one count of second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man whose identity has not been released.
The confrontation unfolded in the afternoon near Loop 101 in Scottsdale, a partial beltway serving the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, the Scottsdale Police Department said.
McGinty told a 911 dispatcher that the road-rage encounter began at about 2 p.m., according to court documents obtained by Phoenix independent television station KTVK and CBS affiliate KPHO, which jointly operate as Arizona’s Family.
Police said both men eventually stopped on 87th Street, just north of Cactus Road. The argument there escalated into a shooting.
McGinty allegedly told the dispatcher that the other driver was “road raging” and that he had to “defend himself,” according to the court documents. When asked how he defended himself, he reportedly answered, “my pistol.”
Although McGinty acknowledged shooting the man, he also told police that the victim did not appear to be carrying a weapon. At the end of the 911 call, McGinty allegedly said he had remained inside his vehicle and would wait there for officers.
Officers arrived and found McGinty with his hands raised outside the window of his car, police said. He was taken into custody.
Nearby, officers found the victim lying on his back with gunshot wounds to his chest and back. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died.
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In a later interview with detectives, McGinty said the dispute began as he drove along the loop and tried to exit at Cactus Road. He claimed the victim refused to let him merge, and the two men later got out of their vehicles near the exit, police said.
According to court documents, McGinty told investigators that the other driver cut him off, pulled quickly in front of his vehicle and stopped, forcing him to brake suddenly. The man then allegedly stepped out, approached McGinty and repeatedly yelled, “get the f— out.”
McGinty said he responded, “I don’t want no beef,” while holding his firearm against his chest, police said.
The defendant claimed the other man continued toward him and appeared to move as though he was going to punch the car window. McGinty said he fired once. When the victim apparently turned back toward him, McGinty fired a second shot, according to the court documents.
McGinty also told investigators that his firearm malfunctioned after the first shot. He allegedly removed a screw from a suppressor before firing again.
Investigators found no shattered glass or damage to either vehicle at the scene, according to the court documents.
Police also reviewed traffic-camera footage from the area and said it showed “no aggressive driving behavior” by either driver.
McGinty remains held in the Maricopa County Jail on a $1 million bond.
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