JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police are searching for a motorcyclist after a man was injured in an apparent road rage shooting early Friday morning on the Southside, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.
It happened about 2:20 a.m. on Hodges Boulevard, just south of Beach Boulevard.
A 36-year-old man told police he was driving on Richmond Park Drive North when he turned right onto Hodges Boulevard and possibly cut off a motorcyclist, who got upset.
As the man continued driving north on Hodges Boulevard, he heard a gunshot and realized he had been hit in the left arm, according to police.
The man then pulled into the nearest exit off Hodges Boulevard, a Target parking lot, and called police before going to a friend's apartment on Richmond Park Drive North.
When officers got there, they said they found the man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police noted there was at least one bullet hole in the back left side of the man's car.
According to the Sheriff's Office report, there were never words of gestures exchanged between the victim and the motorcyclist.
Investigators said the motorcyclist, who was described as a man driving a black Harley-Davidson with a Florida tag, was last seen traveling north on Hodges Boulevard. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500.
Sgt. Dylan Bryan, with the Florida Highway Patrol, advised drivers to always use common sense while behind the wheel.
"What I mean by that is you want to drive responsible or in a responsible manner, use patience and, of course, follow the rules of the road," Bryan said.
He also reminded drivers not to get upset or lash out at someone who might have violated the right-of-way or cut them off.
"Gain a little bit of distance and separate yourself from them," Bryan said. "For situations that involve weapons and so forth, that’s when that distance comes in."
Bryan added that road rage incidents should be reported to authorities immediately. He said to pass along as much information as possible, such as the description of the vehicle and driver, the tag number, and any bumper stickers or marks on the vehicle.