A family’s weekend trip to the zoo turned into a terrifying ordeal when an alleged road rage incident ended with a mother pointing a gun at a father and his three young children, police say.
Christolyn Momon has been ordered held on a $40,000 bond following a dramatic confrontation in September on Interstate 20 in Atlanta. According to court records, the accused remains behind bars as of this week and cannot post bond.
Momon is facing multiple charges, including two counts of assault, cruelty to children, and possession of a firearm.
Brandon Parker, an Alabama dad, drove his three sons — ages 2, 8, and 14 — to Zoo Atlanta when their trip took an unexpected turn. According to Parker, his car was rear-ended on I-20. The other driver, later identified as Momon, allegedly sped away, weaving across lanes before exiting the highway.
Parker says he followed her to get her license plate number, while his 14-year-old son began recording the encounter. That decision, he believes, may have saved his family — and provided crucial evidence for investigators.
“Everything I Did Was to Keep My Kids From Getting Shot”
The video, captured by Parker’s teenage son, shows Momon stopping her car, getting out, and pointing a handgun at the family.
The situation quickly escalated. A gunshot rang out during a struggle between Parker and Momon, though no one was struck.
“So you really don’t have time to think,” Parker later told reporters. “Everything I did was to keep [my kids] from getting shot. So I’m watching the gun the entire time.”
In the heat of the moment, Parker managed to disarm Momon by wrestling her to the ground. He says he only acted with as much force as necessary to protect his children. “So I let her go,” he explained. “Self-defense only goes so far. It’s not self-defense if I’m trying to chase her and grab her and pin her down.”
Momon allegedly fled the scene once she regained consciousness. Police, however, later tracked her down with the help of the video and witness accounts.
The footage has since made waves on social media, sparking conversations about road rage, gun violence, and the split-second decisions parents make when protecting their children.
Parker says while he’s grateful his family is safe, he’s still haunted by how close the incident came to tragedy. “Thinking back, you know, I should have made some different decisions, because it could have cost my child,” he admitted.
His car was heavily damaged in the crash, requiring a new fender, rim, and other repairs.
Momon remains in custody as her case moves forward in court.
