Driver Shoots Other Driver for ‘For Merely Looking at Him’ at Stop Light, Police Say

Phoenix police arrested Nicolas Elliott in the shooting Phoenix Police

Police in Phoenix said a man shot and killed another motorist “for merely looking at him” while they were both stopped at a red light.

Officials said that 30-year-old Nicolas Elliott was arrested in late September for fatally shooting Alex Mixon, 26, earlier in 2019.

Elliott shot Mixon at 2:40 a.m. on March 1 “for merely looking at him while stopped at a red traffic light,” reported the Arizona Republic on Sept. 28.

Police arrested Elliott at a hotel near Interstate 17 and Union Hill Drive before he was taken to the Maricopa County jail on charges of suspicion of first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and misconduct involving weapons. He also faces several drug charges.

The shooting caused Mixon’s truck to cross into the eastbound lanes and leave the roadway, police said. The vehicle then hit a power pole and hit a wall before coming to a stop.

Mixon was rushed to a hospital but later died of his injuries, reports said.

Mixon was shot in the early morning hours of March 1 because police say he 'merely looked at' Elliott while both men stopped at a red traffic light Facebook / selfie

Officials had thought the incident was a single-vehicle crash. However, an autopsy revealed that he was shot. Elliott fled the scene of the incident, according to the Republic.

Police then obtained surveillance footage from the area, showing Mixon at the red light before a larger pickup truck stopping directly beside his vehicle. The shooting and crash that ensued were not captured on camera.

In July, an anonymous person said they heard Elliott talking about shooting someone in the face because the man gave him a dirty look at an intersection.

Police interviewed three other people who said they were present during the incident. Court documents said that Mixon “merely looked over at (Elliott) which in turn enraged (him) to fire his handgun at (Mixon).”

Other witnesses said that Elliott bragged about the incident, police said.

In a statement to ABC15 on Sept. 28, Mixon’s family said their slain loved one “had the biggest heart and cared deeply for those around him.”

“He lived for his art, loved animals and was a devoted fan of the Diamondbacks. He always loved to laugh and be surrounded with people. Above all else he never missed an opportunity to help someone else. His death has affected our family deeply and he has truly been missed. We now know why he was taken from us so unexpectedly, but it will take time to reconcile our hearts to it. Our family is thankful for all the hard work and dedication from the City of Phoenix Police. Without their efforts we would not have found out what happened to Alex and the person responsible for his death,” the statement read.