A sideswipe on I-275 near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge turned into an armed confrontation Wednesday morning, leaving two motorists in custody and snarling the southbound commute. One driver allegedly pulled a gun after the collision, and state troopers arrested both men at the scene. The incident prompted troopers to remind motorists to create distance from reckless drivers and to call 911 instead of getting personally involved.
Crash Escalated Into Gunpoint Standoff, Troopers Say
Troopers say the incident began at about 8:25 a.m. when reports came in of a white Chevrolet Silverado driving recklessly southbound on I-275 and sideswiping a white Dodge Ram near the south rest area. Both drivers pulled over and, according to troopers, the Dodge Ram driver, identified as 55-year-old Paul Shannon, produced a firearm and pointed it at the other man. Shannon was booked into the Manatee County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and 50-year-old Gary Thompson, the Silverado driver, was arrested on suspicion of DUI and for refusing to submit to a urine test, as reported by Tampa Free Press. Troopers took both men into custody while investigators processed the scene.
Where It Happened And Why The Skyway Matters
The confrontation happened on the southbound lanes near the Skyway's south rest area, a stretch that often becomes a choke point when crashes or law enforcement actions close lanes. The state's crash portal outlines how hit-and-run and DUI crashes should be reported and notes that official crash reports may take several days to become available, as outlined by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Local reporting has shown that incidents on the Sunshine Skyway can quickly ripple across the Tampa Bay commute, amplifying delays and safety risks, per the Tampa Bay Times.
Both men remained in custody at the Manatee County Jail, the outlet reported. Troopers reiterated that anyone who witnesses reckless driving, impaired motorists or road-rage incidents should call 911 and avoid engaging with drivers involved in roadside confrontations.
