A Des Moines teenager faces an assault charge after allegedly pointing a gun at another motorist on U.S. Interstate 80 Sunday night.
Lal Ram Mawia, 18, of 4007 54th St., Des Moines, was charged with assault.
The incident occurred about 11 p.m. near the 118 mile marker of U.S. Interstate 80 near Earlham, where a Dallas County Deputy Sheriff responded to a report of “a road rage incident involving a weapon,” according to court records.
The victim, a Minnesota man, told the deputy that the driver of a black Toyota Camry “pointed a handgun at him,” according to court records.
The deputy caught up with the Toyota, initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Mawia, who matched the description given by the victim.
The deputy “observed a black handgun on the passenger floorboard” and on closer inspection confirmed that “the handgun was actually a pellet gun, with no orange tip,” according to court records.
Mawia allegedly “admitted to pointing the pellet gun at the victim” and said he “understood how it would place him in fear,” according to court records.
Mawia was held in the Dallas County Jail in advance of an initial appearance in Dallas County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
