Man accused of firing gun during Fort Myers road rage incident

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

A man was arrested Saturday after being accused of firing a gun during a road rage incident in Fort Myers.

According to the Fort Myers Police Department, officers responded to two cars involved in a road rage incident that were pulled over on northbound Interstate 75 and Palm Beach Boulevard around 9:33 p.m.

Officers spoke with the victim first, who said he was traveling westbound on state Road 82 by the Publix at Lee Boulevard behind a silver SUV. The victim said he came to an abrupt stop due to the light turning red at the intersection of state Road 82 and Buckingham Road, the FMPD said.

The victim said the driver of the SUV then got out of his car and began yelling at the victim. The driver of the SUV was identified as Bernard Jones, 64, the FMPD said.

The victim said he did not know why Jones was yelling, as the victim felt they had done nothing to provoke this action. The victim and Jones shouted at each other until the light turned green, the FMPD said.

As the vehicles began moving again, the victim switched to the right lane, stuck his head out the window and spit at the silver SUV. Jones brandished a gun and pointed it at the victim, the FMPD said.

The victim then said they decided that Jones needed to go to jail for pointing a gun. The victim sped up and got in front of the SUV, and began braking in front of the SUV to prevent it from driving away while 911 was called, the FMPD said.

The victim saw Jones point the gun out the driver's side window and then heard a loud bang, which the victim presumed to be a gunshot, the FMPD said.

The victim said the SUV then got back in front and traveled northbound on I-75 before pulling over on the side of the highway. The victim pulled over behind the SUV, the FMPD said.

Officers then spoke to Jones, who said he was traveling on the same route as the victim, but that the victim was tailgating him and following very close to his rear bumper. Jones said he stopped at the intersection of Buckingham Road and began to speak calmly with the victim through the driver's side window, the FMPD said.

Jones said the victim became aggressive and began yelling, calling Jones racial slurs, the FMPD said.

Jones then said the victim spat on his window, pulled in front of him, and began slamming on the brakes. Jones said he then pulled out his gun and fired a shot into the ground in an attempt to get the victim to stop, the FMPD said.

Jones told officers he believed the victim was trying to use their vehicle as a weapon due to the repeated braking, which could have caused a crash, the FMPD said.

Jones was arrested and faces a charge of aggravated assault without intent to kill.

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