A 44-year-old Kissimmee man is accused of pointing a gun at another driver and threatening to kill him after a road-rage confrontation on Florida's Turnpike that ended near Coconut Creek last Saturday evening. Anthony Moreno now faces a charge of improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon following the encounter, which troopers say began as a traffic dispute between two drivers and escalated into a terrifying chase.
According to WPLG Local 10, Florida Highway Patrol troopers responded to a report of a traffic accident and road-rage incident involving two drivers on Saturday at about 7:20 p.m. Moreno was driving a gray Dodge Ram, while the other driver was behind the wheel of a gray Ford F-150. The confrontation reportedly boxed in the victim's vehicle before triggering a pursuit that ended when troopers stopped the victim near mile marker 73 on the right shoulder of the Turnpike.
That stretch of highway sits in Coconut Creek, according to TPK Traffic. Kissimmee, where Moreno lives, is a major destination along Florida's Turnpike, per TurnpikeInfo.com. The Florida Highway Patrol, a division of the state's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, holds primary jurisdiction over criminal investigations across the more than 300 miles of the Turnpike system, according to Florida's Turnpike Enterprise.
Victim Says He Feared for His Life
The victim told troopers that Moreno pointed a small black gun directly at him after traffic came to a stop, the article notes. He said he believed Moreno might kill him and fled after being pursued. Per the arrest report, Moreno appeared to say, “Pull over, imma f***in kill you!” during the confrontation, and intentionally slammed on his brakes in an attempt to force the other driver to stop.
After the victim fled once again, Moreno pointed the gun at the victim and boxed in his vehicle, the report states. He later made a confession that was redacted in the arrest report, though according to the same account, he told investigators he pointed the gun toward the victim's tires just to scare him.
Charges Could Escalate Depending on Prosecutors' Review
As of Friday, Moreno was no longer listed as an inmate in Broward County jail records, though the terms of his release remain unclear. He currently faces one count of improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon, a first-degree misdemeanor under Florida Statute § 790.10 that carries up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine, according to the Florida Senate. According to the Florida Senate, Florida Statute § 790.10 is titled "Improper exhibition of dangerous weapons or firearms."
But Florida law provides for a more serious charge in some cases. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is a third-degree felony under § 784.021, which carries up to five years in state prison, according to the Lasnetski Gihon Law. Whether that charge applies would be up to prosecutors.
Part of a Wider Pattern of Armed Confrontations on Florida Roads
The Coconut Creek arrest involved a firearm-related road-rage incident in South Florida. Hoodline has previously reported on other road-rage cases in the region through its coverage. The broader issue includes road rage and gun violence on Florida roads.
The pattern extends well beyond South Florida. Road rage and aggressive driving are broader traffic-safety concerns, including when firearms are involved.
Whether Moreno ultimately faces the misdemeanor charge listed in his arrest or a felony aggravated assault count will depend on how prosecutors weigh the victim's account against Moreno's own statements to troopers. For now, the case remains an open question for the Broward State Attorney's Office, which has not indicated whether additional charges are forthcoming.
