[Henry Kingi] testified at a preliminary hearing that he and his son were driving on Ventura Boulevard about 7:30 p.m. when a Jeep containing seven youths cut in front of him and forced his car into the center divider. After the Jeep narrowly avoided hitting Kingi's car at a traffic light at Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Kingi said he got out of his car and confronted the driver.

The driver, a young woman, yelled for her friends to "get him" and a man jumped out and began arguing with Kingi, according to court documents. Kingi attempted to hit the man, but missed. Then, [Thomas Lee Robison] got out of the Jeep and pointed an automatic pistol at Kingi. When he pulled the trigger, the gun did not fire, Kingi testified. Robison then kicked Kingi in the groin, stood back, loaded his gun and shot him in the chest, according to court documents. Kingi's son was not injured.