A Leesburg man was arrested after an incident of road rage in which he allegedly shot at another vehicle on the Florida Turnpike.
A state trooper observed a white four-door sedan on Sunday evening driving recklessly on the Florida Turnpike around Mile Marker 191, according to an incident report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
The driver, 22-year-old Zion Zaire Vicent Waller, was improperly changing lanes around a white pickup truck. Both Waller and the truck passed the trooper, who watched Waller’s sedan through his left rear-view mirror as it traveled in and out of lanes through traffic, the report said.
As the trooper made his way into northbound traffic, he continued watching the sedan as it followed vehicles too closely, cut in front of other drivers to switch lanes and sped over the posted speed limit, the report said.
The trooper immediately began to intercept the sedan as he called information in to the regional communication center, the report said. Throughout this, Waller continued his erratic behavior at speeds over 100 miles per hour.
Upon catching up to Waller around State Road 91, the trooper observed the vehicle stuck in traffic and unable to go around. The nearest unit was placed on standby to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, the report said.
When safe to do so, the trooper activated his emergency equipment and overtook the sedan for a traffic stop. The vehicle slowly pulled over on the right shoulder of the road, after which Waller and a female passenger were told to exit the sedan, the report said.
Waller was immediately placed under arrest for reckless driving and placed in the trooper’s patrol car, while the passenger was detained and placed in the assisting officer’s vehicle, the report said.
The assisting officer proceeded to inventory the vehicle for a tow, the report said. In plain view, he found a Premiere Firearms 556 rifle and a Glock 45 handgun, both of which were loaded, on the front side floorboard.
The troopers then asked both Waller and the passenger what occurred. At that point, a white pickup truck pulled up alongside the scene and advised law enforcement that their vehicle had been shot. The driver was asked to pull up ahead of the patrol vehicles so the trooper could speak to him, the report said.
The driver stated that Waller shot at the left side of his vehicle, leaving a bullet hole between the driver’s side door and the passenger door, the report said. He also advised the sedan drove erratically around his vehicle prior to being shot at. A total of three occupants, including the driver, another adult and a five-year-old child, were in the vehicle at the time of the shot.
However, Waller claimed he was involved in a road rage incident with the truck several miles south of their location. He advised that the truck was driving erratically around his vehicle, and at one point the driver pointed what appeared to be a weapon at him. Waller stated he feared for his life and shot one round at the truck before speeding up to stay away, the report said.
When asked why he did not pull over or call law enforcement, Waller said he did not feel safe pulling over. His female companion confirmed that Waller shot at the truck and attempted to shoot the tires, the report said.
But, a search of the truck yielded no weapons, leaving Waller’s statement unconfirmed, the report said. The investigation concluded that Waller’s aggressive behavior was a result of “road rage” preceding the discharge of the firearm.
As a result, Waller was transported to the Osceola County Jail and transferred to jail staff for processing. The charges were as follows: reckless driving, possession of an unlicensed firearm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, shooting into or throwing deadly missiles into a vehicle and three counts of attempted murder.
The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles advises that if you are involved in an incident of aggressive driving, or road rage, remain calm and call *FHP (*347) for assistance. Do not engage with the other driver or put yourself at risk by trying to gather further information.
