FORREST GUMP - FORREST GUMP STAR ESCAPES GUN THREAT

FORREST GUMP star MYKELTI WILLIAMSON drove for his life on Tuesday (03MAY05) when he was chased by a racist gunman in Gardena, California.

The actor, who played Forrest Gump's best friend BUBBA in the OSCAR-winning 1994 movie, was driving through the city when a young man began shouting racial slurs and pointing a gun at the 45-year-old star.

After running Williamson off the road, the culprit approached his car on foot, but eventually left the scene.

Williamson says, "I could see the rage in his eyes. He was out of control, completely out of control.

"That man could've very well killed me. That was a huge gun."

After reporting the man's license plate to the police, Los Angeles resident ERNESTO DIAZ, 24, was arrested and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and of hate crimes.

Diaz is being held on $50,000 (GBP26,300) bail and will be formally charged in Los Angeles Superior Court later today (05MAY05).