Ballwin Man Shoots at Cars on I-44, Gets Arrested

Missouri State Highway Patrol authorities state Sepid Majid Salem, a 59-year-old Ballwin resident, was arrested Tuesday after he fired four or five shots at motorists on Interstate 44 in Pulaski County from along the highway shoulder on Sunday.

A Springfield, MO, TV station reports no one was injured, but one of the shots went through a sleeper berth in a semi-trailer truck. The Rolla Daily News reported the sleeper berth was occupied at the time. The truck was parked in a rest area along eastbound I-44.

A witness notified authorities, who arrested Salem in Rolla, MO, around 2:21 p.m. Sunday. Authorities found the semi at a rest area near Doolittle, MO. The truck had a camera, and the driver had recorded the shooting.

Salem was charged with first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and first-degree property damage. He's being held in Phelps County jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond. He was arraigned yesterday and entered a not guilty plea.

A woman, who was a passenger in Salem's Honda car on Sunday, told authorities he said he “had an urge” before he stopped near Devil’s Elbow,and then fired the shots.

A highway patrol corporal attempted to interview Salem, but Salem requested an attorney before he would answer any questions about the shooting, according to the Rolla Daily News article.