CHP ARRESTS SUSPECT IN ROAD-RAGE SHOOTING.

Byline: Josh Kleinbaum Staff Writer

The California Highway Patrol threw its first counterpunch in the fight against freeway shootings, arresting a 20-year-old Los Angeles resident on suspicion of attempted murder stemming from a December road-rage incident, officials announced Thursday.

Juan Peralta, driving a gray Mazda RX-7, allegedly fired a revolver twice at a passing truck Dec. 11 on the transition from the 105 Freeway to the 710 Freeway, officials said. CHP officers arrested Peralta on Tuesday at his house, and Peralta reportedly confessed to the crime, said Manny Padilla, the CHP's Southern Division commander.

``We want everybody to know, if you let your temper get to you and you lash out physically, you will get caught, and you will face charges,'' Padilla said.

Since March 12, the CHP has reported 17 freeway shootings in the Southland, a trend that has terrorized drivers. Peralta is not a suspect in any of the recent shootings, Padilla said. Although police have not made any arrests in the recent string of shootings, CHP officials used Peralta as an example that these cases can be solved.

``The false presumption is that this is a crime that you can get away with,'' Padilla said. ``I assure you, that is not the case.

``We feel relatively certain that these are random acts, some caused by copycats. We can't attribute them all to road rage.''

The key to Peralta's case, Padilla said, was a solid description from the victim and forensic evidence recovered from the victim's car. Officers recovered bullets from the car, which they used to help identify Peralta, Padilla said.

Padilla would not say whether officers recovered the gun used in the shooting.

The five-month investigation is not indicative of how long it will take for the Los Angeles Police Department and the CHP to make arrests in the recent shootings, LAPD Officer Jason Lee said.

Josh Kleinbaum, [phone]

josh.kleinbaum(at)dailynews.com