A 33-year-old Dunnellon man was arrested by the Ocala Police Department in connection with a road rage shooting incident that occurred on Monday morning.
At approximately 6:45 a.m. on Monday, a silver Toyota Corolla and white Ford F-550 work truck were traveling eastbound on State Road 40, near the intersection of SW 60th Avenue, according to OPD.
A witness told OPD that the silver car was driving erratically, and the vehicle left the roadway and drove onto the grass several times. The driver of the car was identified as Marquis Donte Browdy.
During the road rage incident, Browdy and the victim stopped their vehicles in the roadway. Browdy then exited his car, approached the victim’s passenger window, and “aggressively confronted the victim,” according to OPD.
While seated inside the truck, the victim struck Browdy in the face with a metal object. Browdy then allegedly pulled out a gun and fired a shot at the victim. Police stated that the victim sustained a gunshot wound to the right side of his lower back that was not life-threatening, and the victim was transported to a local hospital.
Browdy sustained a facial injury during the altercation. He was also taken to a local hospital, and an OPD officer made contact with him there to conduct an interview.
According to the OPD report, Browdy told the officer that it was a road rage incident. He stated that he had pulled over in the right turn lane to let the victim’s vehicle drive past him. When he stopped, he advised that the victim’s truck pulled up next to him on the driver’s side of his vehicle.
Browdy claimed that the victim began yelling racial slurs at him. He told the officer that he eventually approached the passenger window of the victim’s truck and continued to argue with the victim.
According to Browdy, the victim grabbed a metal object from inside the truck and hit Browdy in the face with it. Browdy told the officer that he carries a firearm, and he pulled it out and shot the victim who was sitting in the driver’s seat of the truck.
The officer read Browdy his Miranda rights, and he refused to discuss the incident any further.
Browdy was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $10,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.
In a press release, the Ocala Police Department stated, “Road rage is a serious issue and it’s dangerous for everyone. These road rage incidents can be avoided if everyone drives safely, follows the rules of the road, and stays courteous.”