Heartbreaking Incident: 19-Year-Old Nursing Student Fatally Shot in Road Rage Tragedy

A family in Missouri is grappling with an unthinkable tragedy after a cherished nursing student was shot in the head during a road rage incident.

Nineteen-year-old JayLee Gross was out on a date with her boyfriend, Damon Culter, on May 3 in Kansas City when they received a call to assist a friend who was stranded due to a flat tire.

Upon helping their friend, the couple began their journey back to their home in Leavenworth, only to encounter an aggressive driver on the road.

As they attempted to merge onto US 71, a speeding car swerved around them in the right lane, forcing them to brake suddenly, JayLee’s father, Bradley Gross, shared with The Kansas City Star.

Culter, who was behind the wheel, tried to evade the aggressive driver by changing lanes, but the driver continued to pursue them, repeatedly hitting the brakes, Bradley recounted to the publication.

Culter then hopped back into the slow lane, and as he did so, JayLee flipped off the other driver, Bradley added. 

The unidentified road rage driver then exited onto a nearby street, took out a gun, and fired five to seven shots at JayLee and Culter’s car.

JayLee was struck in the head by a bullet and has been fighting for her life ever since, while the alleged shooter remains on the run, her heartbroken father said. 

JayLee Gross, 19, was enjoying a date night on May 3 with her boyfriend, Damon Culter, when things took a dark turn 

After helping a friend fix their flat tire, the couple (pictured together) drove toward their home, but on the way, they were met with an enraged driver 

‘We’re not doing ok, and we can’t act like we are. Because, you know, no parent should ever have to experience this,’ he told The Star, adding that JayLee is suffering from brain swelling and is using a breathing tube. 

Her mother, Manda Gross, said Sunday that her daughter is still fighting for her life. 

‘Keep fighting… we love you,’ Manda wrote on Facebook. 

Her mother also shared a colorful graphic that showed JayLee surrounded by inspiring words and symbols related to her nursing career.  

She is currently studying nursing at St. Mary’s University while working full-time as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) at a nursing home, The Star reported. 

JayLee is also on her school’s bowling team and completed several college-level courses by the time she was 17, her father told the publication. 

‘My daughter is truly somebody that spent the last four years of her life giving,’ Bradley added. 

Culter has also shared thoughtful posts on social media, including one that read: ‘You’re the strongest most beautiful woman I know in this whole universe… I love you so damn much you got this baby.’ 

After being cut off by the angry driver multiple times, Culter moved their vehicle into another lane. As he did so, JayLee flipped off the other driver, her father, Bradley Gross, said

Her mother also shared a colorful graphic that showed JayLee surrounded by inspiring words and symbols related to her nursing career

While her family remains hopeful that JayLee will recover from her traumatic injury, police said they have launched an aggravated assault investigation into the violent incident. 

Officers responded around 12.30am on Monday to Truman Medical Center, University Health, after being informed that a shooting victim was being rushed there by a private car, Captain Jake Becchina with the Kansas City Missouri Police Department  told the Daily Mail. 

He noted that no one is in custody as of yet, but detectives are ‘making headway,’ The Star reported. 

Bradley said he and his family have heard very little from authorities about what happened to his daughter, only telling him that they have ‘some strong leads, but nothing is definite.’ 

Her mother, Manda Gross (pictured with JayLee), has also taken to Facebook to share that their beloved daughter is still fighting for her life

After nearly a week of being by JayLee’s side in the hospital, Bradley left on Saturday to take his other daughter to her softball practice, he said. 

While still trying to wrap his head around what happened, Bradley shared a very simple and important message to the community. 

‘I think we all just need to slow down and realize how short life is. We’re always in a hurry. And where you’re going is never going anywhere,’ he stated.