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| Photo Credit: Polk County Sheriff |
Staff Reporter | iSkyNews.com (ISC News)
Published June 12th, 2025
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Polk County, FL — A road rage incident near Haines City escalated into gunfire Saturday afternoon, leading to the arrest of a Dundee man on attempted murder charges, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
At approximately 4:13 PM on June 7, 2025, deputies responded to a reported shooting near Lake Hatchineha Road and HL Smith Road. The initial caller, 35-year-old Joseph Martinez of Dundee, claimed he had accidentally discharged his firearm inside his Hyundai sedan, shattering the front passenger side window.
Martinez told deputies he was steering with the same hand that held the firearm when a black Toyota Celica swerved in front of him, forcing him to brake abruptly—allegedly causing the weapon to fire unintentionally.
However, as detectives continued investigating, the driver of the Toyota Celica contacted authorities and provided a conflicting account. That driver stated he had passed the slower-moving Hyundai, which apparently angered Martinez. According to him, the Hyundai began tailgating aggressively, prompting a brake-check in hopes of deterring the behavior.
Moments later, the Toyota driver reported hearing a gunshot and seeing his window shatter.
After collecting evidence and statements from both parties, detectives determined that Martinez intentionally fired the weapon at the other driver. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Martinez was subsequently arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail, where he faces a charge of Attempted Second-Degree Murder.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Stay tuned to iSkyNews.com for updates.
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