Suspect arrested after I-485 road rage shooting near South Tryon exit left two people wounded
What authorities say happened on I-485
A suspect has been arrested in connection with a shooting on Interstate 485 in southwest Charlotte that investigators described as stemming from a road-rage encounter. Police said the incident occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, near the South Tryon Street exit, where officers responded to reports that shots had been fired into another vehicle.
Investigators said two people riding in a Dodge Charger were shot during the encounter. The victims were transported for medical treatment; their conditions were not publicly detailed in the initial filings referenced by local reporting.
Who was arrested and what charges followed
The suspect was identified as Anil Dabydeen, 39, of Charlotte. He was taken into custody in connection with the shooting. In subsequent proceedings, the case drew federal involvement centered on firearm possession allegations.
Court records and reporting on the investigation indicate Dabydeen faced federal prosecution for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, based on the allegation that a gun was used during the I-485 shooting. Separately, state-level allegations tied to the shooting were also reported around the time of the arrest.
Date and location: Jan. 8, 2025, I-485 near the South Tryon Street exit in Charlotte.
Victims: Two occupants of a Dodge Charger were reported shot.
Suspect: Anil Dabydeen, 39, identified by authorities in reporting.
Federal focus: Alleged unlawful firearm possession tied to prior felony status.
Prior conviction referenced in court documents
Records cited in coverage of the case stated that Dabydeen previously pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in New York in 2008. That prior conviction became a key factor in the federal firearm allegation, which generally hinges on whether a defendant was legally prohibited from possessing a gun.
What remains unresolved
While the arrest and subsequent federal indictment clarified the direction of the prosecution, several aspects commonly central to public understanding of roadway shootings were not fully detailed in the initial public summaries, including the victims’ identities, the sequence of driving maneuvers leading up to the gunfire, and whether any additional motorists were endangered.
Anyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The case proceeded through both investigative and prosecutorial stages after the January 2025 arrest, reflecting the seriousness with which authorities treat shootings on heavily traveled interstates such as I-485.