Police: Road rage leads to gunshots

Man charged with attempted murder.

By: Matt Chiappardi
   EAST WINDSOR — A road rage incident almost turned deadly when a township man fired a gun at another motorist early Wednesday morning on Stonehedge Drive, police said.
   Police said they responded to a call at 2:43 a.m. from a motorist who reported that a man, later identified as Luke P. Kara, 22, of Glen Oak Drive, jumped out of his vehicle, brandished a gun and fired two shots in his direction, and 10 more shots into the air.
   This was after what police called a "tailgating incident." According to police reports, Mr. Kara; driver Daniel C. Jamet, 22, of Stonehedge Drive; and another man had been closely following the alleged victim in a silver pickup truck. They then passed the other motorist, who began following the truck closely himself, police said.
   Police said that with Mr. Jamet’s house nearby, the three men ran from the area into the home after the shooting, staying there until police arrived.
   Police said they then tried to coax the men out of the house for nearly two hours by telephone, until Mr. Kara and the third man surrendered to them.
   Mr. Jamet still refused repeated requests from police to come out, police said, so they entered the home and apprehended him.
   Police said they found a .40-caliber pistol in the house registered to Mr. Kara that matched the description given by the other motorist, and 12 shell casings on the road that matched the weapon police found in the house.
   Mr. Kara was charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, illegal possession of a weapon, and disorderly conduct. He was being held at the Mercer County Correction Center in Hopewell Township on Thursday in default of $25,000 bail, and is scheduled for a bail hearing on Monday, said Casey DeBlasio, spokeswoman for the Mercer County prosecutor’s office.
   Mr. Jamet was charged with obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct. He was released pending court action.
   The third man who had been traveling in the pickup truck was not charged.
   Police said there were no reported injuries.