A Central Florida man was recently charged with attempted murder in a road rage incident.
The road rage incident was reported near Haines City and Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the area of Lake Hatchineha Road and HL Smith Road, following a report of a shooting.
The first person to contact the PCSO was 35-year-old Joseph Martinez, of Dundee. He told deputies that he had accidentally discharged his firearm in his vehicle, causing his front passenger side window to shatter.
According to law enforcement, he said that he had his firearm in his hand, while simultaneously steering with the same hand, when suddenly, a black Toyota Celica swerved in front of him. Martinez said he had to quickly hit the brakes, and he inadvertently fired his gun.
As the investigation was unfolding, a call was received by the other involved driver, so deputies went to Poinciana to speak with him.
The other driver told deputies that he was passing the slower Hyundai sedan, which he assumed angered that driver (Martinez), because the Hyundai began tailgating the Toyota in an aggressive manner.
The Toyota driver said he brake-checked Martinez to get him to back off, but that only made things worse, and soon a gunshot was heard, immediately followed by the Toyota driver’s window being shattered, according to PCSO.
Detectives determined that Joseph Martinez intentionally fired his gun at the victim, who was not injured.
Martinez was booked in at the Polk County Jail and charged with Attempted 2nd Degree Murder.
