A verbal exchange during a road rage incident on August 26, 2022, in Newport News, Virginia, escalated into a fatal shooting, claiming the life of 51-year-old Crystal Mittelstadter, a White female. The confrontation began near City Center Boulevard and Warwick Boulevard, where Mittelstadter and 22-year-old As-Siddiq Abdul-Aziz of Norfolk engaged in a heated argument while driving.
The dispute continued as both drivers pulled into the parking lot of a Food Lion on Oyster Point Road.
In the parking lot, Abdul-Aziz exited his vehicle armed with a firearm. A cell phone video recorded by Abdul-Aziz's girlfriend, who was a passenger in his car, captured portions of the tragic encounter. On the recording, Mittelstadter could be heard saying, 'You got a gun on me.' As the situation intensified, with Mittelstadter driving to the passenger side of Abdul-Aziz's car, he was heard on the recording saying, 'he gone die today, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on.' A witness observed Abdul-Aziz lean toward his passenger window and shoot Mittelstadter.
Responding officers found Crystal Mittelstadter in the parking lot with a gunshot wound. Medics arrived on the scene, but she was pronounced dead. Abdul-Aziz remained at the location, placed his weapon on the ground, and was taken into custody by police. During the investigation, Abdul-Aziz claimed he believed Mittelstadter was armed, but no weapon was found in her possession or in her vehicle.
As-Siddiq Abdul-Aziz was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. In February 2024, he was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in Crystal Mittelstadter's death. The case serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a traffic dispute can escalate to deadly violence.
