Authorities in Kitsap County, Washington are seeking two individuals in a Dodge Ram who launched fireworks at another driver during a road rage confrontation, in a case that raises the unusual question of at what point a fireworks attack becomes a criminal assault or use of a weapon. The targets of the fireworks attack were shaken by the incident, which could have caused serious injuries or a fire if the projectiles had connected with the vehicle’s interior or fuel components. The Ram’s distinctive appearance was captured on the victims’ dashcam, giving investigators a strong lead on identifying the perpetrators.
The use of fireworks as weapons in road rage incidents is rare but has precedent, and the legal consequences are typically serious because consumer fireworks are classified as dangerous items under most state codes and deploying them at another vehicle constitutes a form of assault that can result in felony charges. The decision by the Ram occupants to bring fireworks into what was presumably an ordinary road dispute and then deploy them suggests either extraordinary impulsiveness or premeditation of a specific type that investigators are exploring. The public’s help in identifying the vehicle and its occupants is being sought through the release of surveillance footage.
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