An Orlando man was arrested in Volusia County over the weekend, hours after he allegedly shot at another vehicle during a “possible road rage incident.”
According to the DeLand Police Department, a male victim and his friend were driving on N Woodland Boulevard at around 2 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, behind a red vehicle that was “traveling slowly.” As the victim’s vehicle neared the intersection of N Woodland Boulevard and New York Avenue, the victim honked his horn several times at the red vehicle.
The driver of the red vehicle – later identified by police as 22-year-old Daniel Duarte – pulled into a nearby parking space as the victim’s vehicle passed. DPD stated that moments later, Duarte “extended his hand out of the window” before allegedly firing multiple rounds at the victim’s vehicle.
At least two bullets struck the victim’s vehicle. One of those rounds pierced the passenger’s hoodie, narrowly missing his head.
The victim and his friend were not injured.
DPD detectives launched an investigation and began searching for the red vehicle involved in the incident. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office assisted detectives in the search, and the vehicle was located at around 3:40 p.m. on Saturday.
The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Duarte, was detained in handcuffs. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement allegedly found a handgun that was “in plain view.”
In a media release, DPD stated that an investigation into the shooting remains active, though “preliminary findings suggest this may have been a road rage incident.”
Duarte was arrested and transported to Volusia County Jail on Saturday evening. The following day, he was released after posting a $60,000 bond, and he is facing the following charges: aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony (two counts), firing a missile into a vehicle, discharging a firearm in public, and discharging a firearm from a vehicle.