MIDDLEBURG, Fla. — A road rage incident in Middleburg escalated into a shooting on Thursday, resulting in the arrest of 57-year-old David Lee Garcia, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said.
The incident happened around 7 p.m. in the parking lot of the Walmart Neighborhood Market on County Road 220, where Garcia allegedly fired multiple rounds from a handgun following a road rage disturbance, CCSO said in a news release Friday.
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CCSO said it responded to multiple calls reporting the shooting. Investigators discovered that the altercation began on County Road 220 and continued into the Walmart parking lot.
Garcia reportedly drove around the victim’s vehicle and stopped just yards away before firing shots that struck the victim’s car and two other parked vehicles, CCSO said. One of these vehicles was occupied by an adult and a child, but no injuries were reported.
Shoppers told Action News Jax the shooting was alarming, especially with families still inside the store. “I think it’s pretty scary because it’s close to home, close to my nephew’s school, that’s right there. We live right there. We didn’t expect it right there. Way too close,” said Amy Vallone, who was out shopping with her niece. She added, “His dad went inside, and I said we’re not going inside. We’re just going to stay in the car.”
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The victim sustained a superficial injury, which was treated by Clay Fire Rescue Department personnel. Both Garcia and the victim left the scene and later called to report the incident.
Garcia was subsequently arrested and charged with Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, and Shooting into an Occupied Conveyance.
As a former Coast Guard member, Garcia’s mugshot is exempt from release under Florida law.
CCSO asks the public to report incidents of reckless or aggressive driving to CCSO at (904) 264-6512 or via the Safer Watch app.
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