A 19-year-old Central Florida man has been arrested after a road rage altercation turned into a shooting in the streets of Tampa. The suspect has been charged with battery, criminal mischief, and shooting at, within or into a vehicle.
On Sunday, February 25th, Tampa Police Officers responded to the intersection of S Morgan St and Channelside Dr at approximately 6:28pm after multiple reports of shots fired following a two-vehicle crash.
Based on the investigation, officers were able to determine that the two parties engaged in a physical dispute that stemmed from a roadway altercation. When both involved parties returned to their vehicles, the suspect, 19-year-old Shyquan Lee Galon, fired multiple shots at the occupied victim’s vehicle and then fled the scene, according to law enforcement.
No one in the vehicle sustained any injuries as a result of gunfire, but a victim self-transported to a local hospital with minor non-life threatening injuries from the physical dispute.
Following leads, officers made contact with Galon at his residence, where he was taken into custody.
Galon was transported to Orient Road Jail and charged with One Misdemeanor Count of Battery, One Misdemeanor Count of Criminal Mischief, and Two Felony Counts of Shooting At Within Or Into A Vehicle.
Aggressive driving often leads to incidents of road rage, the Tampa Police Department encourages drivers to practice safe driving habits and to follow these tips:
– Practice Polite Driving Habits: Avoid tailgating, speeding, break-checking, or using obscenities directed at other drivers.
– Don’t Engage: If you notice a driver that’s enraged, do not further engage with him/her. Give the aggressive driver lots of room and do not follow them.
– Don’t Drive Under Distress: Avoid driving when you’re emotions are high. Drivers should be cool, calm, and collected before getting behind the wheel.
Most importantly, if you believe that you are in danger or that another driver is attempting to start an altercation, do not follow the vehicle and call our non-emergency number at 813-231-6130 or dial 9-1-1. Be sure to provide operators with as much information about the driver and vehicle as you can to assist officers in locating the aggressive driver.
