Man pulls gun on driver with high beams on during road rage incident

By Joe Bachman
Editor
AMHERST — A Mount Calvary man is facing up to 10 years imprisonment after allegedly brandishing a revolver during a road rage incident.
According to police reports, on July 13, a road rage incident was reported on U.S. Highway 10 near Amherst. The complainant told an officer that a driver pointed a handgun at him during the altercation.
During the incident, the complainant believed that the defendant, 47-year-old James Magdanz, became angry due to the complainant’s headlights being “too bright” as he was driving behind him. Magdanz then drove parallel to the victim’s vehicle, rolled down his window, and screamed at him to “turn off your f***** brights!”, before pointing a gun at him, and swerving at the complainant’s vehicle. The incident ended without injury.
After police later identified the defendant, they spoke with Magdanz, who claimed that he never pointed a gun at the complainant and simply flipped him off instead. However, police would find a loaded .357 revolver in the passenger seat of Magdanz’ vehicle, out of the holster.
Magdanz was unsure of how the revolver became separated from the holster.
According to reports, Magdanz’ conceal and carry license expired in May of this year. The complainant would later identify a black revolver as the type of weapon used during the incident. Further damage was also caused by Magdanz allegedly swerving at the other vehicle, and batting his outside rear-view mirror with his hand.
If convicted, Magdanz faces up to 10 years imprisonment and up to $25,000 in fines for second-degree reckless endangerment, as well as other class A misdemeanors.