Road-rage driver grabbed child through car, hurled racial slurs, NY officials say
A man is facing hate crime charges over a road rage attack in western New York in which authorities said he shouted racial slurs at a family in their car and then grabbed one of the children, scratching her neck.
Justin R. Goodrich, 35, of Lancaster, was indicted on one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, one count of attempted assault as a hate crime, one count of aggravated harassment and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office said in a Sept. 18 news release.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges at a Sept. 18 arraignment in connection with the incident in Cheektowaga, a suburb of Buffalo, on May 6, court records show.
Goodrich’s court-appointed defense attorney did not immediately return McClatchy News’ request for comment Sept. 18.
The woman harassed by Goodrich the morning of May 6, according to authorities, was driving her daughters to school when she turned onto an intersection and noticed a car behind her began honking, she said in a previous interview with WIVB-TV.
They then got into an argument, Adreana Jemison explained while speaking with the TV station. Footage published by WIVB-TV shows Jemison’s car next to Goodrich’s at the intersection.
With both vehicles stopped, the district attorney’s office said Goodrich, “with the intent to harass, annoy or alarm, yelled profanity and racial slurs at the victim.”
Jemison threw coins at Goodrich in response, according to the office, leading to Goodrich getting out of his car.
Goodrich reached through the window of Jemison’s car and grabbed the girl by her shirt collar, scratching her and ruining her clothes in the process, the district attorney’s office said.
“He starts grabbing my daughter around her neck,” Jemison told WIVB-TV. “She’s screaming and hollering. My youngest is screaming and hollering. I’m screaming and hollering.”
Goodrich hurled more racial slurs during the assault, according to officials.
After he eventually let go, the district attorney’s office said he left and drove to a home in the area as Jemison followed behind, according to the district attorney’s office.
Jemison filmed the following encounter at the home on her phone and recorded him using more racial slurs, WIVB-TV reported.
Afterward, she filed a police report and Goodrich ultimately “turned himself in,” the district attorney’s office said.
Jemison and her daughters now have temporary protection orders against Goodrich, according to the office.
Goodrich was released on his own recognizance because the charges he is facing are not eligible for bail, the district attorney’s office said. He is due back in court on Nov. 17.
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM with the headline "Road-rage driver grabbed child through car, hurled racial slurs, NY officials say."
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