CINCINNATI —

After two highway shootings in about a week, Cincinnati police have confirmed a third highway shooting in our area last week.

A witness who talked with us said it all happened incredibly close to him on southbound I-75.

Investigators said the shooting happened last Monday.

They said witnesses called 911 and a victim showed up to the hospital.

"I hear seven or eight more pops, look in my rearview mirror and see two cars pretty much shooting at each other," a witness said.

He said he found himself caught in the middle of a shootout on I-75 on Nov. 29.

He doesn't want to be identified.

"With the crime that's going on right now. I don't feel safe," he said.

He told us while he drove southbound at about 5 p.m., two cars pulled up next to a car in the middle lane and started firing.

This was about two exits north of Ezzard Charles Drive, according to the witness.

"I didn't know if I was going to get hit by a stray bullet or a ricochet or something like that," he said.

Cincinnati police said the victim was shot in the hand and pulled off at 7th Street.

It's another example of highway violence.

The organization, Everytown for Gun Safety, said nationally, there have been more than 800 road rage incidents involving a gun this year.

It says that is up from 701 in 2020.

Another shooting on I-75 in Lockland was caught on camera on Nov. 30.

"I need help right now. I need help," the victim said in a 911 call.

He said he did not know who shot him.

Cincinnati police are piecing together a shooting on northbound I-71 at Fort Washington Way from Tuesday evening.

Investigators said a 42-year-old man was hit in the stomach, drove himself to Christ Hospital and was transferred to UC Medical Center.

They initially said he was in critical condition, but updated his status to stable, as of Wednesday.

The victim's fiancee talked with us on Tuesday night, sharing his call for help.

"Just that he was shot and I told him to go to UC," Billie Ray said.

Now, witnesses are unnerved knowing that gunfire could come from just one lane over at any moment.

"I'm a little bit more on edge when I drive around that area and unfortunately, that's probably how it's going to be from now on," the witness said.

Cincinnati police said they are talking with witnesses and hope to speak with the victim in the Fort Washington Way shooting soon.

They have not released any information about what led up to that shooting, but said it appears the victim was targeted.

Police have not elaborated on how they've come to that conclusion and a spokeswoman has since backed away from calling the incident road rage at this point.

DENVER, Colo. — Doctors are advising people to wait for U.S. government approval before attempting to receive a COVID-19 booster shot. But some are not waiting around and have managed to get a third shot.

Gina Welch lives in Maine. She said she has asthma as well as a liver condition and didn’t want to risk getting COVID-19.

"I felt I had to go take this extra step to protect myself. I don’t want to be one of the 15% of symptomatic cases and get a severe case of long COVID, and then have them say in six months, 'OK, we’re now going to do booster shots,'" Welch said.

Welch decided to go to a different clinic from where she got her first two vaccines and got a third dose.

"I was fully prepared for them to have a system with the CDC and then look me up when they entered my information and say, 'You already had your doses.' But there was nothing, and they gave me my first dose," Welch said.

Welch’s decision is similar to a trend being seen in multiple states.

Dr. Michelle Barron with UCHealth said if you don’t have a compromised immune system, getting a booster might not be necessary. For other groups, it’s important to speak with your doctor before making this decision.

"If you do end up doing this, that you are doing it under the right circumstances so you get the full benefit of the protection," Dr. Barron said.

Barron said studies have shown people with compromised immune systems could benefit from a booster, but until recommendations come out, it could be best to wait.

"There will always be those who say, 'You know, I am willing to take a risk' or 'I really want to do this anyway,' and know that this is not what we would recommend," Barron said.

For Welch, who received her third dose in June, it’s a decision she stands by.

"I feel much safer now in the situation, knowing that I am as protected as I can be," Welch said.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Safety said, in part, “experts are trying to learn more about both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity of COVID-19 to determine if/when third doses are needed.”

As of Tuesday, booster shots aren’t officially recommended by the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices.

This story was originally published by Ivan Rodriguez at KMGH.