A Florida man was charged with attempted murder after police claimed he shot an acquaintance while chasing him down in his garbage truck.
According to a press release posted on Facebook on Monday, 46-year-old Quinson Croson was arrested following an incident that included an alleged shooting, a “verbal exchange” at a Wawa gas station, and a garbage truck chase. According to police, detectives first responded to AdventHealth Zephyrhills hospital, where Brandon Raymon Lee, whose age was not disclosed, arrived with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his right arm.
Lee allegedly told police that Croson shot him after a verbal altercation at Wawa “quickly escalated into violence.”
According to a criminal complaint reviewed by Law&Crime, Lee and his coworker J’Nyith Reyes encountered Croson at the Wawa on Friday morning. Lee, who knew Croson as the owner of a local bar, shook his hand and noticed he smelled like alcohol. He told police that “out of concern,” he advised Croson “in a friendly manner” to return home. In response, Croson became enraged, and the men began to argue.
Reyes later told police that during the conversation, Lee called Croson “silly,” which may have triggered Croson, according to the complaint.
Local NBC affiliate WFLA interviewed Zephyrhills Police Chief Derek Brewer, who told the outlet that Croson apparently took the advice “as a form of disrespect.” ” Brewer also stated that Lee “was trying to keep [Croson] from hurting himself or someone else, and demonstrated some compassion.” He was genuinely trying to do the right thing.”
Despite Lee’s good intentions, Croson got in his SUV and followed Lee and Reyes to the garbage truck they were using for work that morning.
The police department provided WFLA with dashcam footage of the truck, which showed Lee and Reyes in the front seats. One of them shouted at Croson, “Chill, bro!”
During the chase, police claim Croson “retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and fired multiple rounds at the garbage truck while pursuing it through city streets.” Lee was hit in the right arm.
Croson’s SUV then collided with the garbage truck, ejecting Reyes from the passenger side of the vehicle. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries and received treatment at AdventHealth Dade City. Croson allegedly fled the scene in his damaged SUV.
According to police, Croson was eventually apprehended. He was charged with two counts of attempted homicide and one count of possession of a weapon by a gang member. He is currently being held at the Pasco County Detention Centre without bail.
His next court date was not made public.
