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Last updated on Saturday, May 19, 2012
(BOONE COUNTY) - An Indiana man is angry after the bicyclist who reportedly shot his SUV last month was only charged with two class D felonies.
Brad VanHowe was driving his Jeep down 200 South in Boone County when he approached Steiman riding a bike in the middle of the road. He said he honked his horn twice for Steiman to move over.
"As I passed him he flipped me off and made some obscene gestures," said VanHowe who said he then slammed the brakes. "I simply stopped my car to give him a piece of my mind."
Before he came to a full stop, VanHowe said, Steiman pulled out his .45 caliber and fired three rounds at his Jeep. All three shots hit the SUV, a fragment of a bullet even hit VanHowe's shoulder.
"The last thing you expect in the world is some guy dressed like Lance Armstrong with a gun," said VanHowe.
Steiman fled the scene and after weeks of searching, the Boone County Sheriff's Department arrested him. However, VanHowe isn't satisfied. He said the charges filed against Steiman don't fit his crime.
"I'm kinda furious about it to be honest," said VanHowe. "Where's the charge of discharging a firearm? He certainly shot it at me."
Boone County Sheriff Ken Campbell told media Friday there is a chance the prosecutor could tack on additional charges after gathering more information and if so, he supports it.
"If there's a greater way these charges can be enhanced to greater charges, we certainly hope they can be," said Sheriff Campbell.
VanHowe said his daughter was sitting in the back seat just minutes before the shooting. He believes the prosecutor needs to send a stronger message.
"If any ole kid on a bicycle is gonna is just, gonna unload a firearm and get two minor D felonies, then why doesn't everybody carry a gun?"
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