A 23-year-old man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with a road rage shooting that occurred outside a Publix in Kissimmee.
On Sunday, March 30, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Publix located at 841 Cypress Parkway in Kissimmee in reference to shots being fired in the parking lot. Upon arrival, the deputies learned that the shooting was “possibly related to a road rage incident,” occurring to OCSO.
The male victim told deputies that he had been stopped in his vehicle at a red light. He did not immediately notice when the light turned green, and the driver behind him – later identified as Jesus Manuel Perez, Jr., began “honking his horn excessively.”
According to the victim’s statement, Perez was driving “aggressively” while attempting to get around the victim’s vehicle. However, heavy traffic in the area prevented Perez from passing the victim’s vehicle.
The victim stated that he entered the Publix parking lot to “avoid further confrontation,” but Perez allegedly followed him in and pulled in front of his vehicle. Perez then exited his vehicle, approached the victim who was still seated in his own vehicle, and began shooting at him, according to the sheriff’s office.
OCSO added that the victim, who was also armed, returned fire until Perez returned to his vehicle and fled from the parking lot.
No injuries were reported by law enforcement.
Detectives with OCSO launched an investigation and quickly identified Perez as the suspect in this case. With assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Perez was located and arrested in Polk County, and he was booked into the Polk County Jail.
Perez is currently being held without bond at the jail, and he is facing the following charges: attempted murder, shooting into an occupied conveyance, and discharge of a firearm in public.