Man arrested after child grazed by bullet in Orange County road-rage incident

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A person is in custody after a 4-year-old child was grazed by a bullet in what appears to be a road-rage incident in Orange County on Monday night.

Kelly Brandon Long has been charged with four counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill in connection to the shooting.

It happened near the 1400 block of US 70 East in Hillsborough. The child was riding in the back seat of his father's car when the shooting happened, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

The incident happened down the road from a Quality Mart gas station where deputies met up with the father. He told authorities that there were a series of road-rage incidents between himself and Long.

The man said the first incident happened north of Hillsborough on Highway 86 while both vehicles were headed south. As they traveled in and out of the Hillsborough city limits, he said the other driver fired a gun at him.

Officers found damage consistent with gunfire on the driver's sedan. One bullet grazed the child, who was strapped into a safety seat, causing a slight burn wound to his back.

One shot was reportedly fired while the vehicles were on Revere Road. Subsequent shots were fired as the incident continued and that's when the bullet grazed the child.

The child's injuries were considered non-life-threatening and Emergency Medical Services treated the boy at the scene.

Anyone who witnessed these events is asked to call Investigator Kyle Borland at (919) 245-2915.

Law enforcement officers said there is a specific threat to the public.

The Hillsborough Police Department is investigating the incident on Revere Road, while the Orange County Sheriff's Office is investigating the portion that involved the car seat being struck.