A woman injured during a series of highway shootings said she first thought something had gone wrong with her vehicle before realizing she had been shot.
Shawanna Simms of Kansas City, Missouri, was exiting Interstate 70 at Paseo Boulevard on Tuesday evening when she heard a sharp sound.
At first, she wondered whether a tire had blown. Moments later, she discovered a bullet had gone through her vehicle and struck her leg.
The shooting was one of several incidents police believe were connected in a violent spree that left one person dead and four others injured.
Multiple Shootings Reported Across The Area
Police said the shootings happened Tuesday evening at several locations, including I-670 and Wyoming Street, I-70 and Paseo Boulevard, I-70 and Prospect Avenue, and Truman Road and Hardesty Avenue.
Investigators also believe a fatal crash at Truman Road and Bennington Avenue was linked to the same suspect. In that incident, a man crashed his vehicle and was later found to have been shot.
The incidents unfolded during a short period of time, creating fear and confusion for drivers across the area.
Victim Did Not Immediately Realize She Was Shot
Simms said the moment happened quickly. After hearing the sound, she was focused on controlling her vehicle and getting safely off the road.
She later realized she had been hit in the leg. Despite being injured, she was able to slow down and stop before fully understanding what had happened.
Simms described the experience as shocking and said she still struggled to understand how such a random act could happen while she was simply driving.
Other Drivers Also Injured
The highway shootings injured several people, including adults and a teenager. Authorities said the victims were taken to hospitals for treatment.
One of the injured victims was an Uber driver who was transporting soccer fans at the time of the shooting. Reports said the driver was struck in the leg but managed to pull over after the vehicle was hit.
The shootings raised serious safety concerns because the victims appeared to be traveling through ordinary routes when gunfire struck their vehicles.
Police Investigating Connection Between Cases
Investigators believe the shootings are connected and have been working to determine the full timeline of events.
Authorities identified a suspect in connection with the shooting spree and warned the public that he should be considered armed and dangerous. Police have urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement and not approach the suspect.
The investigation has involved multiple scenes, witness interviews, vehicle evidence and efforts to track the suspect’s location.
Community Left Shaken By Random Violence
The shootings have left residents and drivers unsettled, especially because several victims appeared to have no warning before being struck.
For Simms, the incident turned an ordinary drive into a traumatic experience. She said the pain was unlike anything she had experienced and expressed disbelief that she had been shot while simply exiting the interstate.
Her account highlights the sudden danger faced by victims who had no reason to expect violence during their daily travel.
The highway shooting spree left one person dead, four others injured and a community searching for answers. Shawanna Simms’ experience shows how quickly the violence unfolded, as she first heard a sharp sound and only later realized a bullet had struck her leg.
Police continue to investigate the connected shootings and are asking the public to share any information that could help bring the suspect into custody.