Road rage shooting in Osceola County leaves 2 injured, suspect at large: Deputies

Man shot in face during road rage incident, deputies say

Deputies are searching for a gunman after an alleged road rage incident in Osceola County left two people injured Tuesday night, including one who was shot in the face.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Deputies are searching for a gunman after an alleged road rage incident in Osceola County left two people injured Tuesday night, including one who was shot in the face.

What we know:

Deputies say two people were injured in an alleged road rage shooting Tuesday night at an intersection in Poinciana. Authorities said the shooting happened at the intersection of Doverplum Ave. and Cypress Parkway, near HCA Poinciana Hospital; however, the hospital campus was never under lockdown.

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A confrontation between the occupants of a black SUV and another vehicle escalated when the suspect got out, threatened to shoot and then opened fire as the victims tried to drive away, according to officials. Three bullets hit the SUV, which deputies later found riddled with holes.

Both victims arrived at HCA Poinciana Hospital in the same vehicle, which showed visible bullet holes. Both victims arrived at HCA Poinciana Hospital in the same vehicle, which showed visible bullet holes. 

The passenger was shot in the face and airlifted to Osceola Regional Medical Center, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said. The driver was grazed by a bullet. Both victims drove themselves to the hospital and are now cooperating with investigators.

What we don't know:

Authorities have not released a detailed description of the suspect or the vehicle involved. Deputies said only that the shooter is believed to be a man. Investigators have also not disclosed whether they believe the confrontation was random or if the drivers knew each other beforehand.

The backstory:

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office has long warned of increasing road rage incidents in Central Florida. Confrontations that begin with cutting off another driver or an exchange at a traffic light have led to multiple shootings in recent years, putting motorists on edge about safety on local roads.

What they're saying:

Road rage remains a persistent problem in Central Florida, deputies warned. 

"You have to expect that the vehicle next to you, somebody has a weapon in that vehicle, so you never want to engage," said sheriff’s office spokesperson Kim Montes. "You don’t want to make eye contact. Sometimes you can put your hand up, apologize, or just not even talk or motion to that other vehicle."

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