SAMSULA -- A motorist was shot in the stomach Saturday afternoon on State Road 44 during an apparent case of road rage, with the alleged gunman claiming he had been cut off, the Volusia Sheriff's Office said.
The victim, Jeremy Wiener, no address given, underwent surgery at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach and was reported in stable condition later in the day. William Alvarado, 48, of Altamonte Springs, the alleged gunman, was admitted to Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City for observation after complaining of chest pains. The Sheriff's Office is charging him with attempted murder, aggravated assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle.
Deputies were dispatched to S.R. 44 and North Cucumber Lane after receiving a call about the shooting at 3:38 p.m.
Wiener was westbound on S.R. 44, driving a pickup truck with a passenger along for the ride when they encountered another
pickup truck traveling in the same direction.
"That's when Alvarado is accused of pulling next to the victim's pickup truck and firing a round into the vehicle," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said. "The bullet pierced the driver's side door and struck Wiener in the abdomen."
The victim drove to a nearby relative on North Cucumber Lane and was conscious as he was transported by EVAC ambulance to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach.
Sheriff's Office dispatchers quickly broadcast information on the suspect's gold pickup truck, which was spotted by Sheriff's Sgt. George Maddox on I-4 traveling westbound near Orange City about 10 minutes after the initial call came in.
Deputies pulled over the truck, Alvarado was taken into custody after being positively identified by Wiener's passenger and a handgun and a spent shell casing were recovered from the vehicle. Alvarado told deputies that the victim cut him off, Davidson said.
However, before deputies were able take Alvarado to jail, he complained of chest pains and was taken to Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City to be checked out, Davidson said.