Inset: Jason Johnson (Limestone County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The area near Mile Marker 347 on Interstate 65 in Alabama where Jason Johnson allegedly opened fire on a family (Google Maps).
A Saturday drive turned into a nightmare for an unsuspecting family cruising on an interstate in Alabama over the weekend when a man on a motorcycle — donning biker gear and a “bullet-resistant vest” underneath — rolled up and started blasting at them with a pistol, according to local police.
“The gunfire struck the victim’s vehicle, endangering the lives of the occupants,” the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday in a press release.
Jason Johnson, 30, of Centerville, Tennessee, is charged with three counts of attempted murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Cops allegedly found loaded magazines and a pistol in his possession.
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Johnson was said to be wearing an Outcast Motorcycle Club vest during the incident, which is described by authorities as a motorcycle organization “known to engage in a range of criminal activity,” with over 65 chapters across the country.
Police said Sunday the shooting was reported on Interstate 65 in the area of Mile Marker 347. “A 911 caller reported that a man on a motorcycle fired shots at him and his family while they were traveling northbound,” the sheriff’s office said. “Following the alert issued with a detailed description of the suspect, troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) located the individual approximately 10 miles from the scene. Limestone County Deputies responded to assist with the traffic stop.”
Cops have not yet released a motive for the shooting.
Johnson was arrested “based on evidence and witness statements,” according to the LCSO release. A bond has not been set yet for his release.
“This reckless violence has no place on our highways,” said Limestone County Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin in a statement. “We are thankful no innocent lives were lost, and we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure the public’s safety.”
An Aniah’s Law hearing, when judges in Alabama weigh whether to deny bail for defendants charged with certain violent crimes, is scheduled to take place at a later date.
