Dashcam Captures Shocking Moment Driver Shoots Passing Vehicle In Road Rage Incident
The Florida driver claims he was acting in self-defence.
A driver in Florida has been caught on his own dashcam using a handgun during a road rage incident.
Eric Popper was driving on the I-95 in Miami in June last year when he allegedly cut off another driver.
Local10 said investigators have been told the 30-year-old 'abruptly' changed lanes during the morning commute.
Popper was seen on his dashcam video repeatedly looking in his rear-view mirror and even yelled 'f**k off' as the other driver apparently honked their horn.
Police say the other motorist began tailgating Popper's black Toyota Venza and was making hand gestures at him.
The dashcam captured the moment Popper reached into his glove box and pulled out a handgun as the motorist came up beside him.
According to CNN, Popper unloaded 11 shots into the car.
The man's lawyer, Robert Gershman, explained to Local10 that Popper believes he was acting in self-defence.
"On the video, you can hear and see the other driver shoot his car. Upon hearing the sound, Mr. Popper then shoots back in self-defense, pulls over and calls 911," Mr Gershman said.
The two vehicles pulled over straight after the shooting and Popper called 911.
Fox 13 had a snippet of that police call and the 30-year-old apparently said: "I was just shot at, my car was just hit, I returned fire back at the individual."
However, the Florida Highway Patrol's arrest report says the other driver claimed that they didn't shoot at Popper and simply threw a water bottle at his car. The motorist added that they didn't own a firearm.
Mr Gershman later explained the water bottle hitting the car made Popper 'act in self-defence', according to Fox 13.
Former Police Chief Jorge Colina for the City of Miami told NBC 6: "The average person just doesn't say, let me prepare my firearm, let me back my seat up, let me give myself a little bit of space.
"And as fires, he's kind of dipping back a little bit to make himself smaller."
Popper surrendered the dashcam footage to authorities shortly after the incident and police arrested him a month later, according to the New York Post.
He's now facing two felony charges, including aggravated assault with a firearm and firing a deadly missile.
Featured Image Credit: CNNStewart Perrie