“37-Year-Old Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting at Off-Duty Police Officer in Road Rage Incident”

A 37-year-old man has pleaded guilty to felony charges after shooting at an off-duty police officer during an act of road rage on the Ortega (74) Highway near Lake Elsinore. Keith Frederick Prante of Mission Viejo admitted to shooting at an occupied vehicle and unlawfully carrying a firearm under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. As part of the agreement, the assault charge against Prante will be dropped.

The incident occurred on February 20, 2021, when the victim, an off-duty San Bernardino police officer identified as T.S., was driving east on Highway 74. Prante abruptly stopped in front of him, blocking his path. Prante then leaned out of his vehicle and opened fire on the driver’s side of T.S.’s car with a .40-caliber pistol. Fortunately, none of the bullets penetrated the windshield, and no one was injured.

After the shooting, Prante fled the scene but was followed by T.S., who noted down the license plate of Prante’s vehicle. T.S. called 911, and law enforcement quickly responded to the area. Prante was identified as the shooter, and he was taken into custody the following morning without incident.

Prante’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 16, and he has been permitted to remain free on a $135,000 bond. The exact sentence that the District Attorney’s Office is seeking has not been disclosed.

It is worth noting that Prante has no prior felony convictions on record. The motive behind the road rage incident and the events leading up to the shooting remain unclear. This case serves as a reminder of the dangers of road rage and the potential consequences of escalating conflicts on the road. It is essential for drivers to remain calm and avoid engaging in aggressive behavior while driving..