On Sunday, May 18, 2025, a violent confrontation unfolded in the parking lot of a McDonald's on Nifong Boulevard in Columbia, Missouri, resulting in the death of 32-year-old Derek Gonzalez. Gonzalez, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and truck driver, had been involved in a road rage incident while driving on Grindstone Parkway earlier that afternoon. Reports indicate that he pulled out in front of a van driven by Ryan Woods, leading both vehicles to eventually pull into the fast-food restaurant's
parking lot around 12:30 p.m.
The situation escalated rapidly once the vehicles came to a stop. According to the investigation, Gonzalez approached Woods' van and punched the driver's side window while brandishing a firearm. In response, Woods fired a warning shot. Gonzalez reportedly returned fire into the van, striking a female passenger inside. Woods then discharged his weapon again, fatally wounding Gonzalez. Emergency responders transported Gonzalez to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The injured passenger in the van was also hospitalized and listed in stable condition.
Law enforcement detained Ryan Woods at the scene, but he was released shortly after without charges pending further investigation. In September 2025, following a review of the evidence—which included witness statements and surveillance footage showing Gonzalez approaching the vehicle with a weapon—the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office announced that no charges would be filed against Woods. The prosecutor concluded that Woods had acted in self-defense under Missouri law, citing that he was protecting himself and his passenger from an immediate lethal threat.
