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On Thursday, Bryan Michael Williams, 33, a resident of Jim Stuart Road, was arrested for an incident that occurred Sunday, April 25, on Lee Road, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

According to eyewitness testimony, evidence collected from the scene, and an investigation, it was determined that Williams was reportedly driving his vehicle with a trailer attached on Lee Road when he drove too close to an oncoming vehicle, striking and breaking the side mirror of the oncoming vehicle.

After knocking off the mirror, Williams stopped his vehicle, verbally confronted the occupants of the victim vehicle and then retreated to his truck and retrieved his pistol, Haley said. According to eyewitness testimony, Williams began firing at the occupants of the victim vehicle with his pistol.

“The victim occupant retrieved his own weapon and returned gunfire in self-defense,” Haley said. “Williams then fled while the victims remained on the scene to speak with responding deputies. Officers responding to the scene conducted an initial investigation and then referred the incident to detectives.”

Further investigation by the detective division, including taking sworn statements from the victims, resulted in Williams being identified as the aggressor and a warrant was obtained for his arrest, Haley said. Williams’s truck, trailer and ATV were located at his residence and officers noticed bullet holes in all both vehicles and the trailer, consistent with reports of returned gunfire during the confrontation.

Williams was booked into the Washington Parish Jail on Thursday, charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and battery.

Haley said that Williams has three previous arrests in Washington Parish. In 2007, he was arrested for battery. In 2013, he was arrested on another battery charge. He was arrested again in 2013, charged with battery on a police officer, resisting a police officer with force or violence, entry and remaining on premises after being forbidden, disturbing the peace with loud and abusive language and disturbing the peace by being drunk.

“It is so fortunate that no persons were struck,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “At any time gunfire is exchanged, there is always the possibility of someone being wounded or killed. Thankfully, all parties escaped unscathed. Road rage incidents such as this are totally without excuse. I appreciate the hard work of our deputies and detectives to solve this matter and make the arrest.”