Houston man charged after allegedly shooting tow truck in road rage, investigators say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A Houston man is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after investigators say he fired multiple shots into a tow truck following a road rage incident on the North Beltway.

The incident happened Nov. 3 in the 400 block of the North Beltway near Imperial Valley, according to officials.

The suspect, 20-year-old Mason Burke, is accused of opening fire after a minor collision with a tow truck driver.

The driver, Vern Bennett, told ABC13 he was driving his tow truck along the North Beltway when Burke allegedly cut him off. Because he was driving a large tow truck, Bennett said he could not stop right away and accidentally bumped Burke's car.

That is when Burke allegedly fired multiple shots into Bennett's tow truck, investigators say. None of the bullets hit Bennett.

Burke was arrested and appeared in court, where a judge placed restrictions on him.

"You're not to drive without permission from the court. You're not to use, possess marijuana, controlled substance or dangerous drug, you're not to use a firearm," the judge said.

Bennett told ABC13 his tow truck is still in the shop being repaired from the bullet holes. He also said the crash was captured on camera by a nearby garbage truck, and that video has been turned over to investigators.