Thanksgiving Reflections on Survival After Road Rage Shooting in Florida

Esha Dawkins, a 34-year-old mother from Miami-Dade County, reflects on her survival after being shot during a road rage incident last Thanksgiving. On November 25, 2024, while driving on Interstate 95, a bullet struck her neck as she was caught in the crossfire of a dispute between two other vehicles.

Dawkins was driving her 5-year-old son Sam home after a visit to Costco when the violence erupted around 6:15 PM near the Golden Glades interchange. "I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," Dawkins told the Miami Herald.

The bullet narrowly missed her spine and lodged behind her larynx, leaving her in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Fortunately, her son was unharmed, though he later expressed his fear, saying, "I was sad when it happened because I thought you might die." Dawkins, who was able to remain calm during the chaos, managed to pull over to the emergency lane and sought help from a Florida Department of Transportation road ranger.

After receiving medical attention, she learned that the bullet could not be surgically removed due to the risks involved, meaning she would have to live with it lodged in her body. Now, Dawkins emphasizes the psychological trauma of that day, noting, "I have to live with the bullet fragment in my body and am left scared with the memory that will forever haunt me and my innocent child." In the wake of the shooting, Dawkins and her attorney, Willard Shepard, have been advocating for increased surveillance on highways to deter future incidents, highlighting that Florida lacks adequate camera coverage on its roads.

Dawkins expressed concern about the implications of a recent court ruling that deemed the state's ban on open carry firearms unconstitutional, fearing it could lead to more road rage incidents like hers. "These things are happening, and there aren't enough cameras in Florida on the highways," she stated.

The urgency of their advocacy is underscored by the reality of road rage violence, which affects innocent bystanders like Dawkins. As she celebrates Thanksgiving this year, she is filled with gratitude for her life and the opportunity to spend time with her son, despite the trauma they both continue to experience.

Dawkins's story serves as a poignant reminder of the emotional toll that road rage incidents can have on families and the urgent need for policy changes to enhance road safety.