Full Breakdown
Road-Rage Shooting on Interstate 77 Injures Two Sisters
8/25/2026, 6:30:46 AM
Incident Overview
Around 8:50 a.m. on a Saturday in late August, Virginia State Police (VSP) reported that a 61-year-old man driving a Mercedes-Benz opened fire on a Jeep traveling north on Interstate 77 near the North Carolina–Virginia border. The gunfire struck two female passengers—a 12-year-old and a 20-year-old—in the legs. Both were airlifted to a hospital; VSP said their injuries were not life-threatening. The driver of the Jeep was cited for reckless driving, though VSP did not disclose her identity.
Suspect Identification and Charges
The shooter was identified as Richard T. Arriviello, a Charlotte, North Carolina, physician. VSP charged Arriviello with four felonies: malicious shooting into an occupied vehicle, shooting from a vehicle, maliciously causing bodily harm with intent to maim, and use of a firearm while committing a felony. After the incident, troopers pursued the Mercedes-Benz and stopped it about 15 miles away at Exit 19 on I-77, taking Arriviello into custody. He remains detained without bond at the New River Valley Regional Jail. A court appearance is scheduled for later in September.
Victims and Medical Outcome
The two sisters—ages 12 and 20—sustained gunshot wounds to their legs. Both were transported by air to a medical facility where doctors assessed the injuries as non-life-threatening. No further details on their recovery have been released.
Background on the Accused
VSP confirmed that Arriviello is a licensed emergency-medicine physician in North Carolina, holding a license since 2010. Records from the North Carolina Medical Board show he owns Family Urgent Care in Monroe, North Carolina, and list no prior disciplinary actions. The board’s information was corroborated by local television station WBTV.
Official Response
Virginia State Police released a statement describing the incident as a road-rage–related shooting and outlined the charges filed against Arriviello. The agency has not provided information on whether a firearm was recovered from the suspect’s vehicle. No motive for the confrontation has been disclosed.
