Advocate Shares Tips to Stay Safe from Road Rage After 10-Year-Old Girl Shot

Dean DeSoto, executive director of the Community Alliance for Traffic Safety, provides strategies to de-escalate aggressive driving situations.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 11:39pm

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A 10-year-old girl was shot in an incident of alleged road rage in San Antonio, Texas. Dean DeSoto, an advocate who teaches classes to rehabilitate aggressive drivers, shared advice on how drivers can stay safe and minimize the risk of dealing with road rage, including being observant and trying to de-escalate any confrontational situations.

Why it matters

Road rage incidents have become an increasingly dangerous problem in San Antonio and across the country, with tragic consequences like the shooting of the 10-year-old girl. Experts like DeSoto are working to educate drivers on strategies to avoid escalating these types of confrontations.

The details

According to the report, the 10-year-old girl was shot on Friday morning in what police described as a "fit of road rage." DeSoto, the executive director of the Community Alliance for Traffic Safety, teaches classes to rehabilitate aggressive drivers. He said the shooting is a "heartbreaking reminder" of how dangerous the road rage problem has become. DeSoto emphasized the importance of drivers being observant of erratic behavior and trying to de-escalate any confrontational situations with aggressive drivers.

  • The incident occurred on Friday morning.
  • The 10-year-old girl shot in the road rage incident is reported to be out of surgery and recovering as of Tuesday.

The players

Dean DeSoto

The executive director of the Community Alliance for Traffic Safety who teaches classes to rehabilitate aggressive drivers.

Alisa Gates

The 10-year-old girl who was shot in the road rage incident.

Jason Gates

The father of Alisa Gates, the 10-year-old girl who was shot.

Bryan Arceo

The 41-year-old man arrested in connection with the road rage shooting case.

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What they’re saying

“A 10-year-old going to school should not be shot.”

— Dean DeSoto, Executive Director, Community Alliance for Traffic Safety (KSAT)

“Accountability and more strategies to enforce.”

— Dean DeSoto, Executive Director, Community Alliance for Traffic Safety (KSAT)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Bryan Arceo out on bail.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the urgent need for greater education and enforcement around road rage, which has become an increasingly dangerous problem in San Antonio and across the country. Experts like Dean DeSoto are working to provide drivers with strategies to avoid escalating confrontations with aggressive drivers and minimize the risk of violence.