Draper Man Charged in Road Rage Shooting

A West Jordan man has been formally charged with multiple felonies stemming from a series of alleged road rage incidents in Draper on Saturday night. John Edward Orvis, 53, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court.

Details of the Alleged Attacks

Orvis is charged with illegal discharge of a firearm, a second-degree felony, and two counts of aggravated assault and threatening to use a weapon in a fight, both third-degree felonies. All charges include road rage penalty enhancements.

First Incident: Vehicle Pursuit and Gun Threat

According to investigators, the first incident occurred around 11:40 p.m. on I-15. Orvis allegedly began staring at the occupants of another vehicle in a “weird” manner. When the victims attempted to create distance by speeding up, Orvis reportedly followed closely behind, nearly causing a collision.

The victims exited the freeway at 12300 South and stopped at a traffic light. Orvis then maneuvered his truck to pull alongside them. While the victims couldn’t hear what was being yelled, they observed what appeared to be a firearm in Orvis’s hand. They drove away, reporting they heard a gunshot while traveling.

Second Incident: Shooting and Evidence

A third vehicle’s driver witnessed erratic driving near 12300 South and 300 East and believed the vehicles were involved in a road rage incident. This driver then observed Orvis exit his truck and fire his gun, believing she had been shot.

Police investigation revealed a large abrasion on the driver’s upper left thigh. They also found a bullet entry and exit hole in the driver’s side door, and a bullet lodged in the driver’s seat foam. The entry point in the seat aligned with the location of the driver’s thigh when the shot was fired.

Arrest and Evidence Recovered

Draper police located Orvis on Minuteman Drive and took him into custody. A search of his truck revealed a handgun, various ammunition calibers, methamphetamine, a spent shell casing, and THC products.