FLINT — Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said a jury convicted a 31-year-old Flint
man of shooting at a family of four during a road rage incident.
James Sylvester Lara is convicted of 13 felony counts including assault with intent to murder after he shot at a car on Leith Street in the City of Flint on January 7, 2024.
According to testimony at trial, Lara had been tailgating the victim’s vehicle and nearly caused a collision as the victim slowed down to pull into his driveway with his wife in the front passenger seat and a toddler and an infant in the backseat. The victim then honked his horn aggressively and Lara turned around and drove back toward the victim’s driveway.
Lara and the victim exchanged heated words and then Lara fired one shot toward the victim and his family as he was rounding a corner before speeding away. The bullet from Lara’s gun struck a rear passenger window and deflected into the victim’s neck as he stood outside his vehicle. The victim was transported to Hurley Medical Center where he underwent surgery for the gunshot wound.
“This incident highlights the worst in human nature. We can all get frustrated or even angry with other drivers on the road sometimes but acting out on that frustration and anger is absolutely the worst thing to do,” Leyton said. “Thankfully no one was killed but the victim will have physical consequences and emotional scars the rest of his life and the defendant now faces a long future behind bars for his actions.”
Leyton credited the work of his Assistant Prosecutor Jonathan Poulos and his team of support staff for bringing this case to a successful verdict at trial. Lara faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced on February 17.
.
