Crime & Safety
Corte Madera Doctor Arrested in Road Rage Incident After Shooting of Tiburon Man
"We're focusing on the justification for the shooting," a Central Marin Police Authority lieutenant said.
Hours after news of a road-rage-sparked shooting in a residential Corte Madera broke, the story has taken a turn.
The 71-year-old Corte Madera man who told police that he had been followed home in a road rage incident and was forced to shoot a Tiburon man in self defense, has been arrested, a Central Marin Police Authority lieutenant said.
James Stephen Simon shot the 69-year-old Tiburon man twice in the torso with a .357-caliber revolver in the front driveway of his home in the 5000 block of Paradise Drive in Corte Madera, Lt. Michael Norton said.
The shooting occurred after a road rage incident on Paradise Drive between Simon and the unidentified Tiburon man, Norton said.
Simon, who had a license for the revolver, was booked in the Marin County jail Thursday afternoon on suspicion of assault with a firearm on a person, Central Marin Police Authority Chief Todd Cusimano said.
The Tiburon man was shot in the stomach and was taken to Marin General Hospital, Cusimano said.
"He just went in surgery and is in serious condition," Cusimano said around 4:15 p.m.
"We're focusing on the justification for the shooting, "Cusimano said.
Police believe both men were driving recklessly for a mile or two on Paradise Drive before the shooting, Cusimano said. The driving involved braking and speeding up, and one of the men felt the other cut him off, Cusimano said.
Earlier Thursday, Cusimano said Simon drove into his garage and the Tiburon man tried to drive in behind him, but Simon closed the garage door onto the hood of the Tiburon man's vehicle.
According to marinij.com, Simon is a "prominent" Marin doctor who works as a medical examiner at Novato's Gnoss Field "...providing exams to pilots and air traffic controllers."
The news agency received a statement from Simon's attorney Thursday evening:
"This is a clear case of self-defense," Charles D. Dresow told marinij.com. "I am confident that the facts will ultimately prove that Dr. Simon was in fear for his life and the life of his wife. He acted solely in self-defense. The other driver chased Dr. Simon and his wife down their driveway and even drove his car into the garage while Dr. Simon was attempting to close the garage door behind him. Dr. Simon and his family sincerely hope the other driver recovers."
– Bay City News Service contributed to this report.
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