Pct 6: Off-duty deputy charged in road rage shooting of woman on South Loop

HOUSTON – A Precinct 6 reserve deputy constable has landed on the wrong side of the law after authorities say he shot a woman during a road rage incident in southwest Houston.

"He tried to kill me," said the woman.

The deputy, Kenneth Caplan, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

"I'm worried that since he's a cop, they're going to let him off easy," said the woman.

She was traveling on the 610 South Loop near Stella Link during the evening rush hour commute on Nov. 11.

She said she was driving her car when she was cut off, then honked her horn and tried to get around the other driver. That action nearly cost the woman her life.

"I honestly got a taste of death. My heart was slowing down and I couldn't really breathe," she said.

The other driver, now identified as Caplan, drove alongside her, rolled his window down, pointed his weapon and opened fire, investigators said.

"I just started crying because I knew I was going to die," said the victim. "I wanted to call my mom to tell her I love you."

Caplan and his female passenger then fled the scene.

Investigators said the female passenger leaned back in her seat while Caplan shot out the window.

"He was aiming at me and I thought he was going to cuss me out. It didn't register that I was, you know, going to get shot," said the victim. "The blood was in between my nails, just crazy blood, and all over my cellphone, just covered."

The bullet went through the woman's drivers side window and grazed her on the left side of the head.

She pulled over onto the freeway shoulder and called for help. 

Emergency crews arrived and transported her to Memorial Hermann Hospital for treatment. The victim survived her injuries.

"The doctor told me your case in one in a million. I don't ever see this," she said.

Evidence led investigators to identify Caplan, who was in law enforcement, as the suspect.

"I hope he gets what he deserves because I want him off the streets," said the victim.

The Harris County Constable's Office, Precinct 6, cooperated with the investigation, which was being led by the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division.

Caplan was arrested by HPD on Wednesday.

Pct 6 released a statement disapproving of Caplan's actions. 

It read, "Kenneth Caplan was not on duty at the time of the incident in which he was involved nor was he displaying any article connecting him to the Harris County Constable's Office - Precinct 6.  The Harris County Constable's Office - Precinct 6 neither condones nor tolerates the actions taken by Kenneth Caplan that connected him to this incident, and the necessary measures were taken to collect his credentials and remove him from our status."

Caplan is behind bars on a $200,000 bond.