Wisconsin Mother Shot to Death in Road Rage Incident While Teaching Son to Drive: Cops

A Wisconsin mother was shot to death in a road rage attack while teaching her teenage son to drive, authorities said.

Tracey Smith, 47, was shot Friday evening in Milwaukee after being involved in a fender-bender, police said. When she got out to talk to the other driver, words were exchanged and he pulled out a gun and fired one round at her, officials said.

Her son drove her to a hospital, but it was too late. She was pronounced dead by medical staff there.

The other driver fled the scene, but was later arrested, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. He has been identified as Matthew Wilks, 35, and he is charged with first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a gun, authorities said Wednesday. He is being held at the Milwaukee County Jail in lieu of $2 million bail, according to online records.

Smith's 17-year-old son told investigators he and his mom were driving to a clothing store when a van struck the passenger side of their car. The teen said he stopped in an intersection, and his mother got out to inspect the damage, authorities said. 

The teen said his mother was yelling at the van's driver when he said, "B****, I'll kill you," and shot her in the chest, officials said. Smith, a state corrections officer, fell into the street as the other driver fled the scene, officials said.

Surveillance video captured the van's license plate, and investigators used that information to track down Wilks, authorities said. 

He has not yet entered a plea.

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