Man charged with road rage attack on I-355

Vaughn Atkins

WHEATON — A northwest suburban man was ordered held on $200,000 bond Wednesday, charged with shooting at another vehicle during a road rage confrontation on I-355 near west suburban Lisle.Vaughn Atkins, 42, is charged with two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm for the Friday shooting on the tollway near Ogden Avenue, according to a statement from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.

Authorities claim another southbound motorist cut Atkins off about 5:45 p.m., forcing him onto the shoulder. Soon after, Atkins pulled alongside the car, pointed a handgun and fired, hitting the rear door on the driver’s side, the statement said.

Atkins exited the tollway and sped away, prosecutors claim. No one was hurt.

He was arrested Monday at his home in the 1400 block of South Blackhawk Circle in South Elgin, the statement said.

“The allegations against Mr. Atkins are extremely serious,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said. “I can’t begin to imagine the damage that could have been done had a bullet … hit the driver of another vehicle during rush hour traffic on a major expressway.”

Atkins will appear for an arraignment April 28 in Wheaton.