An apparent incident of road rage left a driver and a passenger injured after another driver shot into their vehicle. Now investigators from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) are asking the public to help them identify the shooter.
According to HCSO Public Relations Manager Denise Moloney, around 9:30 a.m. on July 31 deputies responded to a call from a driver reporting a shooting in connection with an apparent incident of road rage.
According to the report, the caller along with another adult and two children was traveling westbound on Spring Hill Drive, when in the rear-view mirror, the driver noticed a vehicle directly behind them that was being driven in an erratic, reckless manner.
While still traveling westbound on Spring Hill Drive between Airmont and Treehaven drives, the caller pulled out of the travel lane and into the median to allow the reckless driver to pass.
After that driver passed the caller’s vehicle, the caller resumed traveling westbound behind the reckless driver.
The suspected reckless driver then moved his vehicle from in front of the caller’s vehicle to beside it on the passenger side. Once there, that driver rolled his window down a few inches and began screaming at the caller.
In an effort to avoid a further, possibly violent confrontation, the caller pulled into a turn lane and stopped the vehicle.
The suspect driver stopped in the middle of Spring Hill Drive where he produced a gun and fired a single shot into the caller’s vehicle, Moloney said.
The bullet entered through the vehicle’s passenger window and exited through the driver’s side window. That driver and the other adult inside the vehicle received minor injuries from broken glass. No other injuries were reported.
The suspected reckless driver turned shooter, then continued westbound on Spring Hill Drive.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male between 30 and 40 years of age driving a dark-colored sedan possibly a newer model Toyota Camry bearing an unknown license tag.
Anyone with information about the incident should call the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
Those wishing to leave an anonymous tip may call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-990-TIPS (8477), text **TIPS from a cell phone, or visit http://www.hernandocountycrimestoppers.com.
Crime Stoppers tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000.
