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Uber Driver Kills Man Who Was Threatening Him With 'Pistol'

Uber Driver Kills Man Who Was Threatening Him With 'Pistol'

The driver said he acted in self defence after he was threatened with a pistol in the early hours of Tuesday morning

Megan Walsh

Megan Walsh

An Uber driver in Florida who shot and killed a man after he was threatened with a 'pistol' will not face charges and has been congratulated by the police.

The driver, 37-year-old Robert Westlake, was taking a drunk woman home from Grove bar in Winter Haven in the early hours of Tuesday morning, when Jason Boek, 34, began to follow him and pulled his pick-up truck in front of him.

Boek, who had been fighting with his on-and-off girlfriend, Jessica, was under the impression that she was in the back of Westlake's car shortly after he left her at Grove bar after a heated row, reports the MailOnline.

Boek sent a text message to Jessica - who was actually still inside the bar - saying he wanted to 'fuck up the Uber driver'.

In this shocking dash-cam footage recorded from Westlake's car, Boek is seen jumping out of his truck and shouting: "I've got a pistol. Do you want me to shoot you?"

But as he approaches the car, it transpires that it's not a gun he is holding at all. It's actually a mobile phone.

Polk County Sheriff's Office

However, Westlake, who has just completed his police academy training and holds a concealed weapon permit, did have a gun.

He fired a single shot, which landed in Boek's chest.

Westlake called 911 and tired to save Boek's life by applying pressure to the wound, but he unfortunately died at the scene.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd described the killing as a classic stand your ground case and has praised the driver for acting the way he did. He said in a conference: "This was a justifiable homicide all day long. You have the right to protect yourself. This is a classic stand your ground case. This was the intent of the law."

And, after calling Boek a 'goofball' the sheriff continued: "Here's a message for the hotheads of the community. Don't do that stuff. Good people carry guns and they will shoot you."

Polk Sheriff's County Office

Florida's 'stand your ground' law grants immunity to any person who uses a firearm in an act of self-defence.

There have been several of these cases, which have sparked major controversy over the years.

Many naysayers have said the 'stand your ground law' is nothing but a 'get out of jail free' card, and have accused police of being too lenient with Westlake because he is a police officer in waiting.

In light of the incident, Westlake has said that he didn't want to shoot Boek, but acted out of fear for his life.

"No one goes out with a concealed carry weapon permit looking use their firearm. They have it just in case they need to use it to protect themselves," he said.

But Boek's family have criticised Westlake's actions and say there were more options than to just shoot.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Florida, US News