Prosecutors on Monday charged a Chicago woman with attempted murder for allegedly shooting another driver’s car because he wouldn’t let her into his lane on the Kennedy Expressway.
Brandi Jolivet, 42, was off duty from her job as a CTA bus driver when she opened fire on the victim’s car around 1:30 p.m. Friday, according to statements made during her bond hearing. She is a concealed carry license holder.
A 55-year-old man was driving outbound on the Kennedy when he saw Jolivet’s red Mercedes SUV driving erratically as it approached him from behind, Assistant State’s Attorney Sean Kelly said.
The Mercedes’ driver weaved in and out and then tried to cut the victim off when he would not let her into his lane, according to Kelly.
As the cars approached Addison, the victim heard the Mercedes’ driver yell, “B*tch!” and then heard a popping sound as his rear window shattered, Kelly continued. The victim pulled over and called the police.
Investigators found a bullet hole in the man’s rear window. The round grazed a headrest in his rear seat, then grazed another head rest and fell on the floor, according to Kelly. No one was hurt.
Using license plate readers and video footage, police tracked down the Mercedes and contacted its owner, Jovilet’s husband. He told investigators that she was driving the vehicle, Kelly said.
Jovilet admitted to waving a gun, but not shooting it, according to Kelly.
Kelly said the victim described the SUV’s driver as a Black woman with long hair and long fingernails, but he couldn’t identify Jolivet in a line-up of photos.
Jolivet’s silver and pink handgun was seized by police, according to reports. Crime lab tests will determine if it fired the bullet police recovered from the victim’s car.
Assistant Public Defender Suzin Farber said Jolivet has a bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine and is a full time CTA bus driver.
“This is a case that could have gone sideways very quickly,” Judge Mary Marubio said after hearing the allegations against Jolivet.
She set bail at $100,000. Jolivet must post 10% of that to get out of jail. Marubio also ordered her to surrender all weapons and her gun licenses to police.
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