Road rage leads to shooting near Pasco WalMart

LUTZ (FOX 13) - A 27-year-old Pasco County man was recovering Monday after he was shot during a road rage incident on State Road 54 in Pasco County.

John Everitt, who goes by the name Jake, said doctors might never be able to remove the shot gun pullet lodged in his arm, but he feels fortunate that's the only injury he has.

"I'm very fortunate, I mean, I'm alive," he told FOX 13. "In the moment, I was just shaking. I was shocked. I've never been shot before."

Everitt said his girlfriend was driving and he was in the passenger seat when they pulled behind another driver on State Road 54 Sunday night.

Everitt said he's not sure exactly what they did to anger the other driver, but that person slammed on the brakes, or "brake checked" Everitt's girlfriend, twice.

"When we got behind him, we were kind of close...I don't know, maybe he was just crazy," Everit said, adding a headlight was out on his girlfriend's Prius, so she also had her brights on in order to have both lit.

Both cars coincidentally pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot and the suspect pulled over to allow the other car to pass.

Everitt said the other driver then sped up to them quickly and, just after Everitt rolled down his passenger-side window, the suspect fired a shot at the victim's car with a .410 shotgun.

Pellets sprayed the back of the Prius and one hit Everitt in the arm.

"We're just two people going to pick up our daughter and we get shot at," Everitt said.

Everitt is going to be okay but he may never be able to get the pellet removed, which is why he's concerned about lead poisoning.

The suspect fled immediately toward Dale Mabry in a dark-colored SUV with a luggage rack. There was also a dog in the passenger's seat.

Deputies are still searching for the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crimestoppers and could be eligible for a $3,000 reward.