A North Carolina physician is facing multiple felony charges after Virginia State Police say he allegedly opened fire on a moving Jeep during a road-rage confrontation on Interstate 77, striking two sisters, including a 12-year-old girl. Richard Thomas Arriviello, 61, of Charlotte, was arrested on August 22 after troopers reportedly found his Mercedes-Benz roughly 15 miles from the shooting scene.
The two sisters, ages 12 and 20, were reportedly shot in the legs and flown to a hospital. Their injuries were described as non-life-threatening. Arriviello now faces four felony charges, while investigators continue working to establish exactly what happened between the two vehicles before the gunfire.
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I-77 road-rage shooting left two sisters injured near Virginia-North Carolina border
The shooting was reported at approximately 8:50 a.m. Saturday, August 22, on northbound I-77 in Carroll County, Virginia, about three miles north of the North Carolina state line.
According to Virginia State Police, an apparent road-rage incident developed between Arriviello’s Mercedes-Benz and a Jeep carrying the two sisters. Investigators allege that Arriviello fired into the Jeep while both vehicles were moving.
The gunfire struck the sisters in their legs. Both were transported by helicopter to a hospital for treatment, with authorities describing their injuries as serious enough to require emergency care but not life-threatening.
Police have not released the sisters’ identities or provided additional medical information.
| Official detail | Information |
| Suspect | Richard Thomas Arriviello, 61 |
| Location | Northbound I-77, Carroll County, Virginia |
| Date | August 22, 2026 |
| Reported time | Approximately 8:50 a.m. |
| Victims | Sisters, ages 12 and 20 |
| Injuries | Gunshot wounds to the legs; non-life-threatening |
| Suspect’s vehicle | Mercedes-Benz |
| Victims’ vehicle | Jeep |
| Arrest location | I-77 near Exit 19 |
| Approximate distance from shooting | 15 miles |
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Police say the alleged shooter fled before being arrested
The case took another turn after the alleged shooting. Police said Arriviello left the area in his Mercedes-Benz, prompting troopers to search for the vehicle.
Authorities eventually located the Mercedes on I-77 approximately 15 miles from where the shooting was reported. Arriviello was stopped near Exit 19 and taken into custody.
The arrest ended the immediate highway pursuit without any additional reported injuries. However, authorities had not publicly identified the firearm allegedly used in the shooting or confirmed whether a weapon was recovered in the latest available reports.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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Richard Arriviello faces four felony charges after alleged highway shooting
Following his arrest, Arriviello was booked into the New River Valley Regional Jail. Virginia State Police reported four felony charges against him:
- Malicious shooting into an occupied vehicle
- Shooting from a vehicle
- Maliciously causing bodily harm to another with intent to maim
- Using a firearm while committing a felony
The charges stem from allegations that Arriviello deliberately fired into a vehicle occupied by other people and that the gunfire caused bodily injuries.
Arriviello remained in custody without bond in the latest reports, with his next court appearance scheduled for September 29.
The charges are allegations, not convictions. Prosecutors must establish the accusations in court, while the defense will have an opportunity to challenge the evidence and circumstances surrounding the incident.
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The Jeep driver was also charged with reckless driving
There is another detail that could become important as investigators reconstruct the confrontation: police also charged the Jeep’s driver with reckless driving.
Authorities have not publicly identified that driver or explained exactly what happened between the Mercedes and Jeep before the shooting. Police have also not said that the alleged reckless driving caused the shooting or justified the use of a firearm.
That leaves a major part of the story unresolved. Investigators have described the incident as road rage, but the precise sequence of events—including whether the drivers exchanged words, followed one another or engaged in other conduct before the gunfire—has not been publicly disclosed.
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The victims survived, while the doctor’s professional background draws attention
Both sisters survived the shooting. The 12-year-old and 20-year-old were passengers in the Jeep rather than the driver, according to the available police account.
The suspect’s identity has also drawn attention because Arriviello is a licensed physician in North Carolina and operates Family Urgent Care in Monroe, southwest of Charlotte.
State medical records list Richard Thomas Arriviello Jr., DO, as an active physician. The Virginia medical-provider database also lists his license as active, while noting that information in the database may be self-reported and has not necessarily been independently verified by the board.
Records and reporting indicate Arriviello has practiced medicine in North Carolina since 2010. Family Urgent Care is located on Wesley Chapel Stouts Road in Monroe and is associated with Arriviello as its owner.
His medical career does not establish anything about the shooting allegations, but it has become part of the public record following his arrest.
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What investigators still haven’t revealed about the alleged road-rage shooting
Despite the dramatic allegations, several key questions remain unanswered.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed what triggered the confrontation, what driving behavior preceded the shooting, whether the two drivers exchanged words or whether one vehicle followed the other. The Jeep driver’s reckless-driving charge suggests investigators were examining conduct involving both vehicles, but the available information does not establish how that charge fits into the alleged shooting.
The case now moves toward the courts, where prosecutors will have to present evidence supporting the felony charges. The victims’ identities and further medical details have also been withheld.
For now, the known sequence is stark: an alleged road-rage confrontation unfolded on I-77, gunfire struck two sisters—including a 12-year-old—Arriviello allegedly fled, and police later stopped and arrested him approximately 15 miles away.
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Disclaimer
This article is based on a thorough review of the information provided from Virginia State Police, Virginia Department of Health medical-provider records, WDBJ7, WBTV, People, Law&Crime, the New York Post and True Crime News. Richard Arriviello is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. The shooting allegations, the circumstances leading to the confrontation and the alleged intent behind the gunfire remain allegations at this stage. The victims’ identities and additional details have been withheld to protect their privacy.
Sources
Featured Image Credit: New River Valley Regional Jail
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