PALMETTO, Fla. — A Riverview man is facing multiple charges of attempted murder after deputies said he fired multiple rounds at a vehicle, injuring a pregnant woman who was inside.
The road rage shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. Sunday in Palmetto as a driver of a pick-up truck headed north on Business U.S. 41 near where it merges with U.S. 41, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. Inside sat a 36-year-old mother of unborn twins, her 57-year-old fiancé and a 9-year-old girl.
The driver of a BMW sedan, identified as 50-year-old Vincent Steele, attempted to pass the truck in the merge lane but ended up hitting its bumper, deputies said. The collision caused him to lose control and spin off into a grassy shoulder.
Through statements from witnesses, deputies learned the riders in the truck stopped to check on Steele, which was when he exited his car and fired seven rounds at the truck.
The pregnant woman was reportedly shot multiple times in the lower torso. Neither of the unborn babies were struck by gunfire, and the 57 and 9-year-old were not injured, deputies said.
Her fiancé, who was driving the pick-up, drove her to Manatee Memorial Hospital before being later transported to Tampa General Hospital for surgery.
Deputies said Steele remained on scene and spoke with deputies before being arrested. He is charged with five counts of attempted murder.
The investigation into the road rage incident is ongoing.