A man who allegedly shot a motorist in Northridge and brandished a firearm during a run-in with another driver pleaded not guilty Friday to attempted murder and other charges.
David Phouanesavath, 37, is accused of shooting a motorist at about 8:35 a.m. March 25 in the area of Haskell Avenue and Parthenia Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The alleged road-rage incident began a short time earlier on the southbound San Diego (405) Freeway, and the victim exited the freeway at Nordhoff Street, the LAPD reported.
“The suspect followed the victim, who pulled to the curb on Haskell Avenue,” according to the LAPD. “The suspect pulled behind, then alongside the stopped victim, and shot the victim multiple times.”
He is also accused of brandishing a firearm during a separate road-rage incident in northern Los Angeles County, in which the alleged victim took a photograph of the suspect’s vehicle and wrote down the license plate, police said.
Authorities said that alleged victim came forward after seeing a televised report about police releasing surveillance video of the suspect’s vehicle and a description of the suspect from the March 25 shooting.
Phouanesavath was arrested after being located in Las Vegas April 26 by an FBI/LAPD task force.
“Due to the suspect’s involvement in two road rage incidents, it is possible that additional road rage incidents involving this suspect and the brandishing of a firearm may have occurred,” the LAPD said in a statement announcing Phouanesavath’s arrest.
Phouanesavath is charged with one count each of attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of an assault weapon and unlawful assault weapon/.50 bmg rifle activity, along with two counts of transfer of a handgun without a licensed firearm dealer, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The charges include allegations of great bodily injury and handgun use.
He remains jailed while awaiting his next court appearance May 28 in San Fernando.