Man accused in Marion road-rage shooting, arrested after foot chase across I-75
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Marion County, FL - A man arrested by Marion County deputies is accused of shooting at a vehicle and threatening its occupants early Monday, according to the sheriff’s office.
Charlie Daniels Jr., 25, was arrested Wednesday after surrendering while being chased on foot by law enforcement, having already ran across Interstate 75 after a vehicle pursuit in the Ocala area, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Multiple 911 callers on Monday reported that the driver of a Nissan Altima was involved in a Reddick-area road-rage incident that involved a verbal altercation, the release states. The Nissan’s driver — identified as Daniels — was known to a bystander who had attempted to intervene and de-escalate the altercation, according to the release.
Some time later, the bystander was driving in the area when he realized Daniels was following and aggressively tailgating him, deputies said. Daniels was allegedly armed with a handgun and threatened to shoot the two occupants in the bystander’s vehicle, both of whom were able to escape and contact law enforcement, the release states.
Daniels called the victim while deputies were investigating, threatening violence and firing a gunshot before the call was disconnected, the sheriff’s office said.
It was learned that around 2 a.m., Daniels had driven to the victim’s home and shot at the vehicle that the victim had been driving, according to the release. When deputies arrived at the victim’s home, they also located Daniels’ vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but he drove away at high speed, the release states.
Wednesday around 3 p.m., Daniels’ vehicle was located again, this time in the 5300 block of NW 44th Avenue, deputies said. Following a short pursuit, a detective successfully executed a PIT maneuver against Daniels, who then ran away on foot, according to the release. The detective followed Daniels as he crossed I-75, after which he surrendered, as is seen on body-worn camera video shared by the sheriff’s office.
Daniels faces charges of shooting into a vehicle, firing a weapon on residential property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, resisting arrest without violence, driving without a valid license, fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the sheriff’s office.
He was being held without bond in the Marion County Jail at the time of this report.