HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL. – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two men following two road rage incidents in eastern Hillsborough County.
At 6:30 p.m. on September 14, an adult male victim was driving his vehicle in the Wimauma area when Raymond Davis, 18, pulled up next to him in a gold 4-door sedan. According to the victim, Davis asked, “Are you revving your engine at me?” The victim told Davis he was not, but Davis then proceeded to follow him in his vehicle. Shortly after, the victim observed Davis’ passenger, Trevor Barnette, 21, hand Davis a firearm. Davis fired two shots at the victim as he drove past his vehicle.
Two days later, just before 6 p.m. on September 16, the same victim was traveling in the Ruskin area when he observed the vehicle and suspects he believed were previously involved in his shooting.
The victim followed the vehicle, being driven by Davis with Barnette again in the passenger seat, and attempted to take a picture of the license plate.
When Davis, who realized he was being followed, came to a stop at a stop sign, the victim attempted to drive away. While passing the vehicle, the victim saw a hand sticking out of the passenger side holding a firearm. He heard several gunshots as he fled. One of the rounds struck the victim’s vehicle. He called the Sheriff’s Office after leaving the area.
Through investigative means, detectives were able to identify the vehicle involved in the incidents and Raymond Davis as the shooter in the first incident. The following day, September 17, Davis was taken into custody for charges of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Discharging a Firearm from a Vehicle, and Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle. Davis confessed to his involvement in both shootings.
Through interviews with several witnesses, detectives were able to identify the suspect in the second shooting as Trevor Barnette. Barnette was located on Tuesday, September 22, and arrested on charges of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Discharging a Firearm from a Vehicle, Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle, and Carrying a Concealed Firearm. While taking him into custody, a loaded revolver was located concealed in Barnette’s right front pocket. The firearm recovered matched the description provided by witnesses as the firearm used during the shooting incident.
“There is no excuse for someone becoming so enraged with a complete stranger on the roadway that they resort to violence. I am thankful that no one was injured during these senseless acts,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Through good detective work, we were able to locate these dangerous individuals and take them off of our streets. My message for any driver upset about being cut off, honked at or any other perceived act of aggression is simple: Let it go.”