Shooting along Interstate 20 in Leeds leaves two hospitalized

LEEDS, Ala. — A weekend shooting along Interstate 20 in Leeds left two people seriously injured and more than a dozen bullets strewn across the interstate police confirmed on Monday.

Leeds Police Chief Jim Atkinson said the shooting happened in the eastbound lanes Saturday around 7:40 p.m.

The shooting was captured on camera by an 18-wheeler driver. The driver told police he saw two cars weaving through traffic and then saw a rifle pointing out the window before gunfire erupted.

Emergency crews found the victim's car crashed on the east bound side of the interstate near mile marker 142. The driver, a 25-yr-old man was shot 8-10 times below the waist according to the chief. Emergency crews had to use a hydraulic tool known as the 'Jaws of Life' to get the driver out of the car.

"If the shot's had been a foot higher there's no way he would have survived," said Atkinson.

A 23-year-old woman in the back seat was also shot in the abdomen. Both victims were transported to UAB Hospital. Police said they are stable.

Atkinson said both victims are from Leeds. They declined to answer questions about what happened at the scene.

"They weren't real cooperative about what happened and it seemed at the onset that it might be some type of road rage."

The 18-wheeler driver told police the suspects appeared to be driving a white car with a break light running across the width of the car.

The chief asked any other drivers who may have witnessed the shooting to contact the Leeds Police Department.