There’s something about driving that makes some people irrationally angry. You never know what might set them off. It could be someone driving too fast, too slow, or laying on the horn. People snap unexpectedly, and their rash decisions can be deadly. The Gates family was leaving their home in Texas on January 30, 2026, like every other weekday. They were headed to school when Linda Gates reportedly honked at a man pulling out of a driveway. Bryan Arceo allegedly shot at the Gates’ van, striking their 10-year-old daughter, Alisa. Now the innocent child is fighting for her life, and Arceo is facing charges.
According to a release from the San Antonio Police Department, Arceo backed out “aggressively,” which prompted Linda Gates to honk. This apparently angered Arceo, who then shot into the family’s car, striking Alisa. Police reported that he drove away but they caught up with him shortly afterward.
Jason Gates, Alisa’s father, told KSAT the whole situation happened in a flash. He said he will never forget the terrifying morning. Around 7:30, they left to take Alisa to school. Jason Gates said that’s when Arceo cut in front of their family’s car and Linda Gates honked at him.
“My wife was on her horn, but she was on her horn no more than three seconds,” Jason Gates said, per the outlet. All of a sudden, the family heard gunfire, and a single bullet went through the van’s door near Alisa’s seat.
“My wife looks at my daughter and says, ‘Hey, did you get shot?’ My daughter says, ‘No.’ Then, I opened the door a little bit,” Jason Gates shared. With the smell of gunpowder in the air, they quickly realized a bullet had hit Alisa.
“I kept telling my wife, ‘Babe, you need to pull over,’” he recalled.
While driving, the family reportedly saw Arceo’s car again and jotted down the license plate number, KSAT reported. Linda Gates tried to get to the hospital, but the family ultimately turned into a parking lot, stopped, and called 911 for help. An ambulance arrived and emergency crews took Alisa to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, per police.
Police caught up with Arceo, who faces three counts of aggravated assault for recklessly discharging a firearm and one count of child endangerment. A judge set his bond at $375,000.
The San Antonio Police Department posted a reminder to drivers not to engage if a situation takes a frightening turn.
“REMEMBER: When a driver’s behavior escalates and becomes violent, stay calm and report it to the police immediately,” the police shared on Facebook.
Linda Gates wants to get rid of her family’s van and all the bad memories that go with it. We can’t say we blame her.
Thankfully, Alisa survived, at least for now. All of this because of a honk on the horn? Arceo could spend a long time in jail if he’s convicted. We hope showing off his gun made it all worthwhile.
