Deputies: Man charged in possible road-rage shooting on US 17

Clay County investigators say driver opened fire in Fleming Island

FLEMING ISLAND, Fla. – A 31-year-old Middleburg man suspected of shooting into a moving car on U.S. 17 in Fleming Island early Wednesday morning has been booked into the Clay County jail. 

Timothy Lee Carrow was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and other felony charges after what was described as a possible road-rage incident at 7:30 a.m. near the Village Square Parkway.

Deputy Chris Padgett said a man in a truck shot a man in a car while both were headed north on U.S. 17. Investigators said they believe there was an incident between them, possibly a crash, before the shooting

Deputies said a man in a car was shot in the arm and the car ended up in a ditch along the highway. The victim's injuries were not life-threatening and he was already out of the hospital, deputies said.

The driver of the truck, described as an F-250 with a red topper and possible crash damage, drove off after opening fire, Padgett said.

About 12:45 p.m., the Clay County Sheriff's Office tweeted that the person wanted for questioning was in custody and was being interviewed by detectives. About 4:30 p.m., deputies named the man as Carrow and said he had been booked into jail.

"We want to thank our deputies, detectives and K9s. Those members, coupled with helpful citizens and our local media outlets, led this unfortunate event to a safe and successful apprehension," Padgett wrote in a release announcing Carrow's arrest.

Carrow's Middleburg neighbors called the incident disturbing.

"Kind of scary, I didn’t expect to have something like that show up on a work day, but glad they caught him," Matt Jeffers said.

The victim told News4Jax Thursday that he's doing better. He's out of the hospital, but deputies said he will need surgery on his shoulder.

News4Jax obtained audio of a 911 call in which another man in the victim's car can be heard telling dispatch he has no clue who fired at them. 

VIDEO: 911 calls released in possible road-rage shooting

911 Operator: "Do you know the guy at all?"
911 Caller: "No, ma'am. No he came at us and shot through the window, hit my friend."
Operator: "Your friend is shot?"
Caller: "Yeah, shot in the arm."

Anyone with information on the shooting or the location of the truck is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 904-264-6512; visit the Sheriff's Office website at claysheriff.com, go to the See Something, Say Something banner and leave a crime tip; or contact First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477).

WATCH: Residents concerned about recent crime in Clay County

Residents said they're concerned the typically quiet Fleming Island has been in the headlines several times this year for violent crimes, including an attempted abduction of a 16-year-old girl in April, a jewelry heist on County Road 220 in June and a double shooting outside a bar in August.

The Sheriff's Office said that, while any crime can be unsettling to residents, crime in the Fleming Island area has not increased, although social media reporting of major incidents has gone up.

According to CCSO statistics, there have been 198 major crimes -- such as assault, robbery, burglary and theft -- so far this year. There had been 188 in the same time frame last year and 217 in 2016.


About the Authors:

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.