Sheriff's Office: Driver shoots newspaper carrier in South Hill for driving too slow

SOUTH HILL, Wash. -- A woman delivering newspapers in Pierce County was shot in an apparent road rage incident early Thursday morning.

Pierce County Sheriff's Detective Ed Troyer said the woman was delivering newspapers outside an apartment complex on Canyon Road East in the South Hill area at about 5:30 a.m. when she was shot in the shoulder.

Troyer said the man who shot her reportedly was upset because she was driving too slow.

“We have somebody out there who has an anger problem, obviously. Using a gun to come back after he had gotten around her, and just out of revenge, or just out of anger, shot her," said Troyer.

The woman drove to the nearest gas station for help and was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries.

Neighbors say the incident is terrifying and shocking.

"{Shot} because she was driving slow, delivering papers, I hope they catch him," said Frankie Ramsay.

Q13 News spoke to Travis Zimmerman. Zimmerman is the victim of a similar crime. In May of 2019, someone shot him several times while he delivered papers in Federal Way. He says the victim will need support.

“Without the community and the help I got, I wouldn’t have made it. I don’t know where we would be right now," said Zimmerman.

He says even though the victim has non-life-threatening injuries, the incident will stay with her forever.

"You're still alive; you're still breathing, but you're not the same," said Zimmerman.

The suspect has not been located.

Investigators are asking for your help.

Anyone in the area who might have video around 5 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. of the victim’s silver Prius or the suspect’s white sedan is asked to contact the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.