Road rage isn’t rational. But even the most heinous imagined affront doesn’t warrant driving dangerously or, worse, becoming violent. That much was lost on an incident in Las Vegas earlier this year, wherein a driver threatened another motorist with a knife just before getting shot. 

These two Las Vegas men made a stupid, literal interpretation of the phrase ‘brought a knife to a gun fight’

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police (LVMPD) responded to the scene of a road rage incident. But by the time the police arrived, the rage was over, and a man was dead.

But here’s the odd part: the police didn’t arrest the shooter. Under Nevada law, the gun-wielding driver was within his rights to use deadly force in the context. In this case, it was an act of self-defense.

According to the Las Vegas authorities, the lethal road rage incident started with a fender bender. One car rear-ended another, prompting both drivers to get out of their cars.

One driver surveyed the damage, but the other driver was apoplectic and drew a knife. Things escalated quickly, with the knife-wielding driver reportedly chasing the other motorist around one of the damaged vehicles.

“The individual with a knife began stabbing the car and the tires,” LVMPD Lieutenant Robert Price said to 3 News. “The driver with the firearm came out of his car, told the individual to get away. At which time, he (the man with the knife) lunged forward, causing the driver to fire his firearm, and that individual was struck.”

Several states allow the use of deadly force in self-defense

Nevada permits the use of deadly force in scenarios like these. But the Silver State isn’t alone. Many states cite a “duty to retreat,” meaning you’re expected to run or flee long before killing an attacker.

In states like Nevada, Texas, Florida, and Michigan, there’s no retreat mandate, per the NCSL. Of course, there are caveats. However, without irrational anger, it’s a moot point. In short, don’t let road rage get the best of you.