PARRISH, Fla. — A driver was justified in the shooting death of another driver during a road rage incident on Saturday night at Parrish, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
- Deputies say the driver's actions were in self defense
- Names involved not released; officials citing privacy request
At around 5:15 p.m., driver one was going on Buckeye Road eastbound near U.S. 301 when driver two, who was going westbound, saw the first driver "swerving in and out of his lane, eventually running D2 off the road," according to the Sheriff's Office news release.
As the 32-year-old driver one pulled over, driver two turned around and the two men argued, the Sheriff's Office stated.
Driver one went to the passenger's side of the 26-year-old driver two's vehicle and began to argue. Driver two asked the man to back away and he armed himself, the Sheriff's Office stated.
"He pointed it at D1 and told him to back away. D1 brandished his own weapon and as he leveled it at D2, D2 fired striking D1, killing him," described deputies.
Driver two went to the east side of U.S. 301, called 911 and waited for deputies to arrive.
Driver one was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office called driver two's action a "justifiable act of self defense" and called him the victim.
The Sheriff's Office did not release the names of those involved, saying, "Both are victims, and are requesting privacy under the Marsy's law."