Jeff Styles
Radio personality Jeff Styles was shot in a road rage incident on Friday afternoon on Highway 153 near Gwyn Road. He was arrested on Saturday for attacking another driver with a hatchet.
Police said he told them he went into "red mode" after he and the other vehicle stopped at the same red light.
He also said he blacked out after getting a tomahawk out of his vehicle and starting toward the other car.
Police said they were dispatched at 4:27 p.m. to Highway 153 and Grubb Road on a person shot. Police found Mr. Styles suffering from a gunshot wound to his right arm. He said the person who shot him left going south on Highway 153.
At 4:44 p.m., Nick Bullington called police. Police were sent to the Riverpark on Amnicola Highway where he had been detained by a park ranger who overheard the radio traffic.
At Erlanger, Mr. Styles said he and Mr. Bullington had gotten into a road rage incident on Highway 27. He said when he reached the intersection of Grubb Road while traveling on Highway 153 south he had to stop at the red light.
He said while stopped he noticed Mr. Bullington behind him again. He said it was then he "went into red mode."
He said he grabbed his tomahawk from a bag and exited his vehicle walking back to the driver's side of the Bullington vehicle. He said once he reached the door he blacked out, only coming out of it after he was shot.
Mr. Bullington, 35, was interviewed at the Police Service Center after being from the Riverpark. He said while traveling on Highway 27 another person was driving aggressively. He said he slowed down to create some distance from the vehicle, but they came back together at Grubb Road.
He said while stopped behind the Styles vehicle he saw the driver waving a tomahawk in the air. He said the man then exited his vehicle and approached his driver side door with the tomahawk in his hand.
He said once at the door the man swung the tomahawk breaking through his window.
He said he was in fear for his life so he grabbed his pistol. He fired one round at the man with the tomahawk.
He said he then left to find a safe place to call police.
Police said a witness confirmed the Bullington account.
The witness said he saw the 57-year-old Styles break through the victim's vehicle window.
Kevin West of WGOW said on Saturday, "We were made aware of Jeff's arrest with the rest of the media in a news release from the Chattanooga Police Department. Their investigation continues. We'll have no further comment until the investigation is complete."