Editor’s observe: This text was initially revealed on January 29, 2022, when video of the incident was first made public. Right this moment, expenses had been dropped towards the motive force, Eric Popper, whose lawyer efficiently cited Florida’s Stand Your Floor regulation in getting the case dismissed. You may learn our protection of right this moment’s developments right here. Beneath is our authentic article from 2022.
Getting pissed off whereas driving in site visitors is comprehensible. Although everybody reacts in a different way to irritating conditions, some reactions are simply lethally reckless and unforgivable. A driver in Miami determined it was applicable to fireplace rounds out onto an interstate at one other driver. I don’t find out about you, however I’ve by no means gotten indignant sufficient to tug out a handgun and open hearth on a freeway.
Yesterday, new dashcam footage got here to mild from a road-rage incident on I-95 in Miami-Dade County final June. The footage utterly contradicts the preliminary report from the Florida Freeway Patrol. Within the video, 30-year-old Eric Popper pulls a handgun from his middle console and opens hearth via his personal automobile at one other car because it passes him. Fortunately, nobody was injured within the incident. The footage was obtained by native discuss present host Andy Slater and confirmed to be genuine by Robert Gershman, Popper’s lawyer.
Gershman claims that Popper was defending himself and that the motive force within the different car fired first. He instructed NBC 6 South Florida, “You hear a bang on Mr. Popper’s automobile, akin to a gunshot, which precipitated the entire incident, so on this matter, the audio and video proof we imagine exonerates him.”
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The FHP also initially stated an exchange of gunfire took place, probably due to the bullet holes in both cars, but the dashcam footage shows that damage to Popper’s vehicle was self-inflicted. The other driver claimed that he wasn’t armed and hurled a water bottle at Popper, which Florida Highway Support now supports.
Popper is facing charges including aggravated assault with a firearm. This piece of evidence appears to be damning for the accused. It will be incredibly difficult to defend shooting at an unarmed person on a public roadway. If Eric Popper is found guilty, it will be more than just.
