A routine drive turned into a horrifying ordeal for a Florida family when their neighbour allegedly pulled a gun on them during a road rage incident in Lehigh Acres. The shocking moment was caught on camera, revealing the man’s desperate attempt to protect his family and pet dog from the armed woman.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that 23-year-old Esmerelda Cruz was arrested on October 26 and charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
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Caught on camera: Here's what happened
The incident, recorded on Cruz’s dash-mounted camera, shows a speeding car narrowly missing a man walking his dog. The vehicle then stops abruptly, and Cruz steps out with a gun. She can be heard shouting expletives, pointing the weapon at two women while the man pulls his dog to safety and stands protectively in front of his family.
At one point in the video, Cruz yells, “Don’t run in front of my car. I’ll light your life up!” The firearm was later recovered from her home.
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Sheriff Carmine Marceno condemned the act, saying, “Road rage has no place in Lee County and won’t be tolerated.” The Lee County Sheriff’s Office shared the video on Facebook, warning residents against reckless and aggressive behaviour on the road.
Cruz remains in custody pending further investigation. The victims, though shaken, escaped without any physical injury.
