A man accused of shooting two people during a road rage confrontation in Poinciana earlier this week has been arrested in South Florida, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Chris Blackmon confirmed that Jose Astacio, 30, was taken into custody Wednesday by the Miami-Dade County Robbery Intervention Unit in Hialeah.
The violent incident unfolded Tuesday around 2 p.m. on Cypress Parkway, when a black Ford Expedition carrying a 40-year-old man and his 39-year-old cousin became involved in a confrontation with a Mercedes GLE. Deputies say both vehicles came to a stop, and Astacio allegedly approached the Expedition, yelling at the driver before threatening him with a gun.
The driver quickly got back into the vehicle and attempted to leave, but as they turned onto Marigold Avenue, Astacio allegedly fired three shots at the SUV. One bullet grazed the driver’s head while another struck his cousin in the face.
The victims drove themselves to HCA Florida Poinciana Medical Center, where deputies later responded. The driver was treated and released, but his cousin was airlifted to Osceola Regional Medical Center for more serious injuries.
Photos released by the sheriff’s office showed the Expedition’s back window shot out and the front passenger window severely damaged.
Astacio now faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Authorities are working to extradite him back to Osceola County.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with additional information about the case to come forward.
