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As It Happens

Bus driver shot at by Phoenix freeway sniper vows to keep driving

The shooter who's been firing at cars along a stretch of highway in Phoenix is still at large. But even though his tour bus was hit by a bullet, Robert McDonald is refusing to stop driving.
CBC News ·
Robert McDonald's tour bus was shot at on a Phoenix highway on Aug 29. On the right, an undated photo released by the Arizona Department of Public Safety shows a bullet hole in the wind shield of a vehicle in Phoenix. (Facebook/CPImages)

Robert McDonald says his two daughters, "could have lost their daddy that day." 

Just over two weeks ago, McDonald was driving an empty tour bus on the Arizona I-10 Freeway when he heard a loud bang. It was the sound of an unknown sniper taking a pot-shot at him.

Since McDonald was targeted, there have been ten other similar incidents on a short stretch of the freeway, including eight vehicles hit by bullets, and three with other projectiles like pellets.

Police have called the shootings "domestic terrorism," and are on a hunt for the sniper. 

"A lot of the people here are on edge. People are just scared," says McDonald.

He tells As It Happens guest host Laura Lynch that he didn't realize his bus had been shot until he pulled over to a gas station later in the day. 

"I'm like 'oh my god, that looks like a bullet hole.'"

He got more shocking news when police found the bullet lodged in a seat-back just behind him. Police told him if the bullet had a bit more momentum, it could have struck him in his shoulder or the side of his head. 

"I nearly fainted. I got shaky and I got sick that someone had the audacity to aim their firearm at me and take a shot at me."

Even though the shooter is still out there, McDonald says he's not going to stop driving.

"He's got the entire Phoenix metro area in a terror state but I'm refusing to submit to that. I'm not going to let this coward, this terrorist, win."

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