An incident of road rage on County Road 220 in Middleburg escalated into a shooting in a Walmart parking lot this past Thursday, leading to the arrest of a 57-year-old man, confirmed the Clay County Sheriff's Office. The suspect, identified as David Lee Garcia, was detained after reportedly firing multiple rounds from a handgun, which struck several vehicles, including one occupied by an adult and a child, as reported by Action News Jax.
The altercation began on the main road and proceeded into the Walmart Neighborhood Market's parking lot, with investigators arriving at the scene around 7 p.m. Garcia is accused of maneuvering around the victim’s car and stopping several yards away before discharging his weapon. The shots hit the victim's vehicle, causing "superficial" injuries that were later treated by Clay County Fire Rescue, and two other cars. Locals expressed their concern, with Amy Vallone telling Action News Jax, “I think it’s pretty scary because it’s close to home, close to my nephew’s school, that’s right there. We live right there; we didn’t expect it right there. Way too close.”
Garcia faces charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and shooting into an occupied conveyance. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office issued a stern reminder of the seriousness with which it treats such incidents, asserting, "Acts of violence, particularly those occurring on or near the roadways, will not be tolerated in Clay County," as stated in the press release obtained by First Coast News.
The investigation is ongoing, but the Clay County Sheriff's Office has recognized the gravity of the situation, particularly given the presence of children and families in the vicinity. Police have not identified the other individuals whose vehicles were struck in the shooting; however, they have confirmed there were no physical injuries reported, according to JaxToday.
