Police have arrested 34 year-old Robert Lewis of Largo following a road rage incident in Pinellas Park.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:05 a.m. on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 in the 7500 block of southbound U.S. Hwy 19 N.
Pinellas Park Police responded to the road rage incident and determined
that the victim 29 year-old Peter Sala Jr. of Pinellas Park became involved in verbal argument with Robert Lewis both of whom were operating their respective vehicles
southbound on U.S. Hwy 19.
Following the verbal altercation, Sala Jr. drove past Lewis who was seated inside of his pickup truck armed with a handgun and Sala threw what is believed to be a portion of a banana which hit the side of Lewis’ pickup truck. At that time, Lewis fired a single round at the passing truck being driven by Sala Jr.
As a result of the shooting the right front passenger window of Sala Jr’s truck was shattered and the bullet entered and lodged into the front passenger dashboard area of the truck. Sala Jr. suffered a small non-life-threatening laceration to his leg from a piece of glass fragment that struck him.
During the investigation, Robert Lewis was identified as a possible suspect in the shooting. On Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at approximately 10:00 a.m. Lewis agreed to meet with detectives and was subsequently charged with a felony (Shooting a Deadly Missile into/at an Occupied Vehicle and Criminal Mischief).
Lewis was booked into the Pinellas County Jail and currently has a $12,000 bond.