DULUTH, Ga. — A Gwinnett County man is recovering after a road rage incident in which the suspect, according to police, gave the victim “until the count of three” to walk away before opening fire.
Duluth Police acted swiftly to assist a man shot in the foot during a road rage incident while using surveillance tools to track and arrest the suspect last month.
Body camera footage shared with Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson captures the victim’s pain and disbelief moments after the shooting near Northside Hospital Duluth.
“I can’t believe he shot me,” the victim told officers as they arrived on the scene.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
TRENDING STORIES:
- Student arrested after bringing gun to Apalachee High School
- Winter storm watch: ‘Significant’ accumulations of snow likely for parts of north GA
- Here are 11 things you can do now before winter storm moves in this week
According to the police report, the victim said he was tailgated on Pleasant Hill Road on Dec. 23 and followed into a parking lot. Both drivers exited their vehicles, leading to a heated argument.
“We had an altercation in the car. He was tailgating me,” the victim said that night. “He kept bothering me, and I got upset.”
The suspect then allegedly “produced a handgun” and gave the victim “until the count of three” to leave. Police said the suspect “began counting up, arrived at three, and shot” the victim at around 8 p.m.
Using city cameras and their Real Time Crime Center, Duluth police tracked the suspect’s vehicle. Hours later, they arrested 30-year-old Josue Matos in Sandy Springs. Matos is now charged with aggravated assault and spent Christmas in the Gwinnett County Jail, where he remains without bond.
“We anticipate the evidence will show the other driver was the primary aggressor and that Mr. Matos’ actions were in self-defense,” said Robby King, attorney for Matos.
Meanwhile, law enforcement experts recommend avoiding confrontations with individuals if drivers get frustrated behind the wheel.
“This was definitely a situation that could have been avoided with some common sense,” said Charles Rambo, a retired Fulton County Sheriff’s Lieutenant and use of force expert.
Rambo, now with Rambo Solutions LLC, emphasized the importance of involving law enforcement instead of engaging in road rage situations.
“De-escalate, retreat, call 911,” he said.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]