A Florida man has been arrested after he allegedly chased down a vehicle with four people in it and opened fire during a road rage incident.
Nicolas Andrew Totherow was arrested on April 29 and was charged with attempted first-degree murder, multiple counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, shooting into an occupied vehicle, armed possession of a controlled substance and driving with a suspended license, according to a news release shared by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident began around 3:14 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 92 and Wiggins Road. Someone in the vehicle called 911 to report that a man was following their vehicle and was “actively shooting at them.” The caller also said that there were four people inside of the vehicle, including a child. The caller remained on the phone with the dispatcher as the chase continued onto Park Road and headed onto the eastbound on-ramp to Interstate 4.
Totherow, 33, continued shooting at the vehicle as he trailed the victims onto I-4 and he followed them eastbound as they exited onto County Line Road. Deputies eventually located the targeted vehicle and they confirmed that it had been struck by gunfire several times.
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“This reckless and violent behavior put multiple innocent lives at risk on our roadways,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “We will not tolerate violence in our community.”
An investigation was launched into the incident, and detectives identified Totherow as the suspect. He was taken into custody on the evening of the chase and allegedly admitted to firing multiple rounds at the vehicle. He also reportedly told investigators that he was shooting with the intention to kill.
“Post Miranda, the defendant stated that the victims cut him off and brake-checked him twice,” prosecutors wrote in a motion requesting that Totherow be held without bond, per Law & Crime. “He admitted that he intended to kill the driver. He admitted to not having any remorse.”
Additional findings from the investigation were revealed in a probable cause affidavit, which include that a loaded firearm was recovered from Totherow’s vehicle shortly after the shooting. Additionally, detectives found a Taurus TH9C 9 mm semi-automatic handgun on the driver’s seat of his car and a vape pen that contained a substance consistent with cannabis resin.
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Investigators learned that Totherow was driving with a suspended license at the time of the chase, while records indicate that his license had been suspended weeks earlier for financial reasons.
Totherow is currently in custody at the Hillsborough County Jail without bond and he is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, May 4.
It is not currently clear if Totherow has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following his arrest. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment when asked about updates in the case.
