Florida Man Enraged Over ‘Brake-Checking’ Opens Fire on Family Car Carrying Child

A 33-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly firing multiple shots into a vehicle carrying four people, including a child, in what authorities described as a road rage incident.

On April 29, deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested Nicolas Totherow, who now faces multiple felony charges.

Totherow told detectives he was furious because the driver of the other vehicle allegedly brake-checked him twice.

“This reckless and violent behavior put multiple innocent lives at risk on our roadways,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Thanks to the quick actions of our Communications Center and the coordinated response of our deputies and detectives, this suspect was taken into custody before anyone was killed."

After the Florida road rage shooting, authorities said they “will not tolerate violence in our community.”

Nicolas Totherow has been charged with multiple offenses, including:

• Attempted first-degree murder with a firearm — discharge

• Four counts of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm with a firearm — discharge

• Discharging a firearm from a vehicle

• Shooting at, within, or into a vehicle

• Armed possession of a controlled substance

• Driving with a license that was canceled, suspended, or revoked

What began as a tense encounter quickly escalated into a dangerous high-speed shooting, authorities said.

At about 3:14 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 92 and Wiggins Road in Hillsborough County, a man called 911 to report that another driver was chasing their vehicle and firing shots at them.

The caller remained on the line with dispatchers as the pursuit continued onto Park Road and the eastbound on-ramp to Interstate 4, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect allegedly continued firing until the victims exited onto County Line Road. Authorities later located the targeted vehicle and confirmed it had been struck multiple times by gunfire, according to Law&Crime.

The targeted vehicle sustained extensive damage, with the windshield and rear window shattered, and one bullet reportedly pierced through a seat inside the car.

After Totherow was arrested later that day, he told investigators he intended to kill the victims.

“Post Miranda, the defendant said that the victims cut him off and brake-checked him twice,” prosecutors wrote in a motion seeking to have Totherow held without bond. “He admitted that he intended to kill the driver. He admitted to not having any remorse.”

A loaded firearm was recovered from Totherow’s vehicle. Deputies found a Taurus TH9C 9 mm semi-automatic handgun on the driver’s seat with a magazine containing 16 live rounds.

Investigators also recovered a vape pen containing a substance consistent with cannabis resin. Further investigation revealed that Totherow was allegedly driving with a suspended license at the time of the shooting.

Totherow is being held without bond at the Hillsborough County Jail. According to court records, he is scheduled to make his first court appearance on May 11.

One commenter on X wrote, “He picked the wrong state to mess around. This isn't CA, IL, NY, and other blue states where he'd probably get a slap on the wrist and a low bail.”