Possible road rage ends in fatal shooting

Police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting at a gas station at the intersection of Perry Road and FM 1960 Monday, Sept. 17, 2012, in Houston. Police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting at a gas station at the intersection of Perry Road and FM 1960 Monday, Sept. 17, 2012, in Houston. Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Possible road rage ends in fatal shooting 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

A woman on her way to work fatally shot another motorist she said attacked her after a minor collision in northwest Harris County, officials said.

Crystal Scott, 23, pulled into a Shell station on Perry near west FM 1960 about 7:20 a.m. Monday with the intention of exchanging insurance information with the other driver, officials said.

But then, the man got out of his pickup and ran toward Scott. He was yelling and hitting her car while she was still inside, she told investigators.

"He was attempting to open (Scott's) car door while striking the driver's side window," said Thomas Gilliland, a Harris County sheriff's deputy.

Scott grabbed a pistol and fired, striking the man in the chest.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released.

Scott's lawyer, Letitia Quinones, said her client has a license to carry a concealed weapon.

"She was afraid for her life," Quinones said. "She didn't know what this guy was going to do to her."

Scott was not injured. She was on her way to work at a Chase Bank branch when the collision happened.

Sheriff's deputies found the man in the Shell parking lot with what appeared to be two gunshot wounds to his upper chest area.

Scott called 911 before pulling into the Shell station because she was concerned about the man's actions following the collision, authorities said.

He would pull ahead of her then suddenly slam on his brakes, her lawyer said.

Sheriff's detectives questioned Scott at the scene. She was released without charges several hours later.

Her account of what happened seemed to match that of witnesses in the area, sheriff's deputies said. The case will be referred to the Harris County grand jury, authorities said.

Scott is now with her family, Quinones said.

"She's very traumatized about what has occurred," she said. "We're just letting her recover and deal with what is happening."

mike.glenn@chron.com

dale.lezon@chron.comfacebook.com/DaleLezon.com