By Shawn Henry 
A tractor-trailer driver was arrested in North Carolina after deputies say he fired a BB gun at another vehicle during a road rage incident on Interstate 40. Authorities reported that the incident occurred in Haywood County on March 10 and resulted in the rear window of a passenger vehicle being shattered by a projectile. Deputies identified the driver as 52-year-old Billy Franklin Swaim of Wilkes County and took him into custody following the incident.
The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office said deputies initially responded to a disturbance call involving vehicles traveling on Interstate 40. According to authorities, the driver who reported the incident met deputies at Exit 37 after leaving the highway. The caller informed deputies that the confrontation had occurred while traveling through Haywood County and provided a description of the tractor-trailer involved in the incident.
Deputies examined the vehicle and found that the rear window had been shattered. Investigators determined that the damage was consistent with a projectile fired from a BB gun. Authorities reported that the driver believed the shot had been fired during a road rage encounter involving the tractor-trailer.
After receiving the vehicle description, law enforcement began searching for the truck. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol located the tractor-trailer a short time later and stopped it at a weigh station. Troopers detained the driver at the location until Haywood County deputies arrived to continue the investigation.
Authorities reported that deputies took Swaim into custody after arriving at the weigh station. Investigators said they also seized the weapon believed to have been used during the incident. The device was identified as a black CO₂-powered BB pistol designed to resemble a Glock handgun.
Deputies later displayed the BB pistol next to a real Glock 45 handgun to demonstrate how closely the two appeared. Authorities said the replica-style design made the BB gun visually similar to a real firearm. The weapon was taken into evidence as part of the investigation.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that Swaim was transported to the Haywood County Detention Center following his arrest. Authorities reported that he was charged with misdemeanor going armed to the terror of the people and misdemeanor injury to personal property.
Investigators said the damage caused by the projectile destroyed the rear window of the vehicle involved in the incident. While no injuries were reported, deputies said the situation created a dangerous scenario for drivers traveling on the interstate. A projectile striking a vehicle at highway speeds can cause drivers to lose control or create sudden hazards for surrounding traffic.
Authorities reported that the investigation progressed quickly after the driver reported the incident and provided details about the tractor-trailer. Law enforcement used the description of the vehicle to locate the truck on Interstate 40 and detain the driver before deputies arrived.
The coordinated response involved both the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Officials said the assistance from the Highway Patrol allowed deputies to locate the tractor-trailer quickly and prevent the situation from escalating further along the busy interstate corridor.
Road rage incidents involving weapons can quickly become dangerous on major highways where traffic moves at high speeds and vehicles are traveling close together. In this case, investigators said the projectile struck the vehicle’s rear window, causing it to shatter. Broken glass inside a moving vehicle can create an immediate hazard for occupants and nearby motorists.
Authorities emphasized that the investigation focused on determining how the damage occurred and identifying the driver responsible. Deputies collected the BB pistol and documented the damage to the vehicle as part of their case.
The charge of going armed to the terror of the people is applied when a weapon is used or displayed in a way that causes fear or alarm to others in a public setting. According to authorities, the charge reflects the risk created when a weapon is used during a confrontation on a public roadway.
Investigators also filed a charge of injury to personal property due to the damage caused to the vehicle’s rear window. Authorities reported that the shattered glass and resulting damage were consistent with the projectile fired from the BB pistol recovered during the investigation.
Officials said the quick reporting by the driver and the coordinated response by law enforcement played a key role in identifying the suspect vehicle. The driver’s decision to meet deputies and provide a description of the tractor-trailer allowed authorities to locate the vehicle within a short period of time.
Law enforcement officers continued documenting evidence after the arrest, including photographs of the weapon and the damaged vehicle. The BB pistol remained in custody as investigators completed their reports.
Authorities confirmed that Swaim was booked into the Haywood County Detention Center following his arrest. According to officials, he was held under a $5,000 secured bond while the case moves through the legal process.
The investigation remains documented by the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office as the case proceeds through the court system. Swaim remains charged with misdemeanor going armed to the terror of the people and misdemeanor injury to personal property in connection with the interstate road rage incident.
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