An Orlando woman, Tina Allgeo, 47, was arrested for her role in a deadly road rage incident that occurred in December along Colonial Drive. According to ClickOrlando, Allgeo is facing a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after the confrontation with Mihail Tsvetkov, 42, which resulted in his death. However, it is important to note she has not been charged with murder.
The altercation reportedly started with Allgeo confronting Tsvetkov about tailgating her, leading to a sequence of events where both vehicles made contact. After the minor collision, witnesses claim to have seen Tsvetkov open the door to Allgeo's vehicle and begin striking her before he was shot. In a statement reported by ClickOrlando, Allgeo detailed her account of the incident, claiming she was "in fear for my life," which led her to fire her weapon.
Details regarding the event continue to be debated, including the possibility of prosecutors pursuing more serious charges against Allgeo. The exact sequence of events and whether Allgeo's actions constitute self-defense or an escalation remain unclear. The case raises questions about the use of force in road rage situations and has become a topic of legal scrutiny in Florida. Despite assertions of self-defense, Allgeo pleaded not guilty and remains in custody on a $10,000 bond, as highlighted by FOX 35 Orlando.
The incident, which police say involved "driver hostility between two vehicles," has drawn attention to the growing concern of road rage violence in the area. The victim's family believes the response by Allgeo was excessive, with Daniela Cvetkova, Tsvetkov's sister, questioning the necessity of the shooting during a FOX 35 Orlando interview: "You can move your car, you can run over him. You can shoot him in the arm and the torso anywhere else. Move away. Drive away. Why do you have to pull your gun and shoot him in the face?" Civil trial attorney Tom Scolaro, representing the family, spoke to the same intent, labeling the incident as an unnecessary escalation over a "minor traffic fender bender."
With the self-defense narrative likely to form the cornerstone of Allgeo's legal defense, the case is set to probe into Florida's self-defense laws in depth. Criminal defense attorney Michael Panella, not involved in the current proceedings, suggested to FOX 35 Orlando that Allgeo may have had the right to defend herself, stating, "Because he’s committing a forcible felony, and it’s imminent like it’s happening, she has a right to defend herself with deadly force." The legal proceedings that follow promise to scrutinize and perhaps influence the handling of future road rage-related incidents in the state.
