AUSTIN, TX – In the bustling heart of Austin, a tragic road rage incident unfolded in broad daylight, marking the city’s seventh homicide of 2025. It occurred on a busy Saturday afternoon near the intersection of Interstate Highway 35 and Martin Luther King Boulevard, where multiple 911 calls reported a shooting.
Authorities believe the altercation began as a road rage incident between the suspect, Jacob Gonzalez, and the victim, Aiden MZ. Witnesses describe a tense encounter where Gonzalez, driving a gold Chevy Malibu, allegedly passed a Jeep SUV and his passengers threw trash out the window at the Jeep. The situation escalated over several miles and culminated at a stoplight.
According to eyewitness accounts, MZ exited the Jeep, approached the Malibu, and appeared agitated, making hand gestures. The confrontation, lasting mere seconds, ended fatally when Gonzalez fired a shot, striking MZ. While Texas law prohibits the use of deadly weapons to threaten others, the unpredictable nature of road rage can lead to tragic outcomes.
Police reports confirm that MZ was unarmed and did not physically interact with Gonzalez’s vehicle. When officers arrived, they found MZ lying in the roadway with a single gunshot wound. Despite immediate response, the Hispanic male, described as manic, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gonzalez remained at the scene, informing police that he intended to fire a warning shot and did not mean to cause a fatal injury. Now facing a first-degree murder charge, Gonzalez’s past legal troubles come into focus. In 2023, he faced charges related to a shootout at a gas station, but those charges were ultimately dropped.
The incident underscores the dangers of road rage and the irreversible consequences of firearm misuse. As Austin grapples with this latest tragedy, the community is left to ponder the senselessness of such violence and the impact on the families involved.