Florida man charged with murder after shooting victim during road rage incident, who later died
Suspect who fled scene on I-4 off-ramp to U.S. Highway 27, was arrested and identified as Daniele Hamilton
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Florida law enforcement officials arrested and charged a man with murder Tuesday, after a victim he allegedly shot during a road rage incident over the weekend was pulled off life support and died of his injuries, authorities said.
Kevin Berry, 58, was taken off life support and declared dead days after he was found lying in the middle of the road on the Interstate 4 off-ramp to U.S. Highway 27 in Davenport on Sunday, FOX35 Orlando reported.
Berry, of Altamonte Springs, was on his way to work as a truck driver for a private contractor just after 2 a.m., when a witness found him lying next to his vehicle, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A witness told deputies that they saw Berry’s white Dodge truck and a dark-colored two-door car driving aggressively around each other in the lanes of the off-ramp before stopping, Judd said.
Kevin Berry, pictured, was shot in an alleged road rage incident early Sunday in Davenport, Fla. Deputies say the unidentified suspect fled the scene. (Polk County Sheriffs Office)
Judd said the witness drove around the two vehicles as the road rage argument ensued and left.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Judd also said the witness had reported that there were at least three other vehicles on the ramp at the time of the incident whose drivers or passengers may have also witnessed the road rage incident.
"We need to know who shot him and why," Judd told reporters Monday.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd held the victim's photo during a press conference Monday. Judd asked any witnesses to contact the sheriff's office. (Polk County Sheriff's Office)
On Tuesday, detectives arrested 58-year-old Daniele Hamilton of Westwinds Drive in Davenport, charging him with second-degree murder, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, shooting over a right-of-way, and tampering with evidence.
According to a press release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, detectives collected evidence from the scene, including video footage, and were led to Hamilton’s home Tuesday.
Detectives questioned Hamilton, who authorities said denied being involved in the incident at first, claiming only to be a witness to the road rage incident.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FLORIDA OFF-DUTY DEPUTY ARRESTED AFTER FLEEING LAW ENFORCEMENT AT SPEEDS UP TO 130 MPH
Daniele Hamilton booking photo (Polk County Sheriff's Office)
When detectives executed a search warrant at his home, they located a .28-caliber revolver in his bedroom, and spent shell casings in the bedroom trash.
"You’ve found what you need to find, so we can go [to jail]," the sheriff’s office claimed Hamilton told detectives.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He was then taken into custody without incident and transported to the Polk County Jail.
"My detectives investigate every homicide as if the victim were one of their own family members — they work around the clock, without sleep, and leave no stone unturned until they solve the case," Judd said. "I’m very proud of them, and very disappointed in this man who simply could have driven away when engaged in an argument with the victim. Now he’s charged with several felonies and is facing some serious prison time."