Denise Richards and her husband, Aaron Phypers, were involved in a terrifying road rage incident on Monday on the way to the set of her latest film, Angels Fallen: Warriors of Peace.
According to reports, the 51-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum was being driven to Popsicle Studio L.A. by Aaron, 50, in their Ford F-150 Shelby pickup truck when they found themselves in a dispute with a man in a gold and maroon van that ended in gunfire.
On November 15, TMZ reported that Aaron was struggling to make his way to the studio, which upset the person behind them, who ultimately began yelling at him and Denise as he attempted to make his way around them.
Although Aaron reportedly let the man go around him, he remained unruly and allegedly shot at the couple’s truck.
While no one was injured in the scary incident, Denise, who plays a weapons expert in Angels Fallen: Warriors of Peace, arrived to set sobbing, and after noticing the bullet hole in their truck, a member of her production team called 911.
Denise Richards' car shot at while driving with husband in road rage incident https://t.co/y83QamL7mu pic.twitter.com/hKO73if0P5
— New York Post (@nypost) November 16, 2022
“She was very shaken up and terrified, but she was a trooper and she went and filmed the whole day,” a source on set told PEOPLE. “[But] she didn’t want to not show up to work.”
According to the insider, Aaron believed he and Denise were targeted by the man in the van.
“[Aaron] could tell — he kept making rights because they were clearly being followed,” the source said. “The guy was obviously pissed behind him. The van was on his tail, pushing him almost… they couldn’t figure it out.”
Denise and Aaron were both said to be “frantic” about the situation, especially after the man “went off [on] them” and accused Aaron of cutting him off.
The source went on to note that while Aaron apologized to the man, he continued to yell as Aaron drove away — unaware that he and the former RHOBH cast member had been shot at.
“The guy had taken off by then, but when they realized the car was shot, they were really freaked out, and the production secured the scene,” the source said. “Even though they were upset, [Richards] decided to stay and film. Her role was just a one-day deal.”
“The production company made her feel safe but they didn’t file a police report,” the source added. “They think now that people were after the car itself because it’s worth a lot of money.”
The insider did not say whether or not the police ever came to the set to investigate but confirmed there was no police report filed.
TMZ also shared that after the road rage incident, Aaron remained on set with Denise, who worked for 12 hours before she and her hubby were escorted back to the freeway by an off-duty cop.
Ironically, TMZ added, a gun safety meeting was held by producers on the day of the incident.