Road Rage Shooting on Highway 231 Leaves Man Injured, Child Nearly Hit — Ethan Crawford Arrested in Pell City

PELL CITY, AL — What began as an evening drive on June 25, 2025, quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal for a local family after an act of road rage escalated into gunfire along Highway 231 North. The violent outburst left one man wounded and narrowly missed striking a young child, prompting an urgent, multi-agency response that led to the arrest of 25-year-old Ethan Crawford of Harpersville, Alabama.

According to the Pell City Police Department, officers were dispatched just after 6:30 p.m. following reports of gunshots fired from one vehicle into another during a road rage confrontation. The incident occurred near a stretch of Highway 231 known for heavy traffic during evening hours, just outside the Pell City limits.

Witnesses told police that the altercation began with aggressive driving and quickly escalated when the suspect — later identified as Crawford — allegedly pulled out a firearm and opened fire on the victim’s vehicle.

Inside the targeted vehicle were a man and his young daughter, believed to be under the age of 10. The father was struck by gunfire and sustained a gunshot wound to the arm. Despite his injuries, he was able to safely pull off the roadway and call for help. The child was physically unharmed, though visibly shaken, and is now receiving trauma support services.

Swift Arrest Following Multi-Agency Response

Thanks to quick coordination between the Pell City Police Department, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, and Harpersville Police, authorities were able to track the suspect’s vehicle and arrest Ethan Crawford within hours of the shooting. He was located at a residence in Harpersville and taken into custody without incident.

Investigators also recovered the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting, which will undergo ballistic testing as part of the ongoing investigation.

Crawford now faces multiple felony charges, including:

• Attempted murder
• Shooting into an occupied vehicle
• Reckless endangerment
• Endangering the welfare of a child

He is currently being held at the St. Clair County Jail on a substantial bond, pending a court appearance expected later this week.

“This was an absolutely senseless act of violence that could have ended in the death of an innocent child,” said Pell City Police Chief Paul Irwin. “Thanks to the rapid response of our officers and neighboring agencies, we were able to bring the suspect into custody quickly and without further harm to the public.”

🚗 A Harrowing Reminder of Road Rage Dangers

This incident has reignited concern across Alabama about the dangers of road rage, a problem that has increasingly led to deadly outcomes nationwide. Law enforcement officials and community advocates are urging drivers to avoid engaging with aggressive motorists and to report dangerous behavior immediately.

“It’s never worth it,” said St. Clair County Sheriff Billy Murray. “We want people to stay calm, stay safe, and contact law enforcement if they feel threatened. One poor decision can change lives forever.”

💬 Community Reactions

News of the shooting and the miraculous survival of the child has left many in Pell City shaken. Local residents have taken to social media to express outrage, relief, and calls for stricter gun enforcement.

“That baby could’ve been killed,” wrote one commenter. “Thank God she’s safe — and thank you to the officers who caught that man.”

Counselors have reportedly been made available to the family through victim services, and the father is recovering from his injuries at a local hospital. While his condition is stable, the emotional scars may take far longer to heal.

📞 Ongoing Investigation

The case remains active as investigators continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses. Anyone who may have been in the area of Highway 231 North near Pell City on the evening of June 25 and saw suspicious behavior or captured dashcam footage is encouraged to contact the Pell City Police Department at (205) 884-3334.

As the community breathes a collective sigh of relief that the child was not physically harmed, the arrest of Ethan Crawford serves as a stark reminder of how quickly tempers behind the wheel can spiral into violence — and how close this tragedy came to being far worse.