A Gothenburg man has been charged with pointing a firearm at a motorist during an alleged road rage incident over the weekend.
Austen Chestnutt, 19, is charged in Dawson County Court with terroristic threats and use of a firearm to commit a felony. His bond at Monday’s arraignment was set at 10% of $50,000. A preliminary hearing was set for May 16, 2024 at 11:00am.
According to an arrest affidavit, around 1 p.m. Saturday, a man reported he was driving on Interstate 80 between Cozad and Lexington when Chestnutt pointed a firearm at him when the man tried to pass him during a “road rage” incident. The man told law enforcement Chestnutt was driving a black 2005 Chevy Silverado and exited at the Cozad exit.
The affidavit said a Dawson County Sheriff’s deputy later contacted Chestnutt at his residence in Gothenburg and retrieved a revolver allegedly used in the incident from Chestnutt, who voluntarily gave it to the deputy.
A Nebraska State Patrol trooper then took possession of the revolver and booked Chestnutt into the Dawson County Jail.
