Man Shot In Road-Rage Incident On U.S. 301: Palmetto Police

PALMETTO, FL — A man was shot early Monday morning while driving on U.S. 301 near Walmart, Palmetto police said.

The family of the then-unknown man called police around 3:15 a.m. and said he was driving himself to Manatee Memorial Hospital. The call disconnected and the caller didn’t answer when dispatchers tried calling back.

Officers responded to the area and found shell casings on the road and spoke to witnesses, who heard gunshots coming from the direction of U.S. 301.

They also responded to Manatee Memorial Hospital, but no gunshot victim ever showed up, police said.

Bradenton police officers searched the area around the hospital and found a pick-up truck with several bullet holes parked nearby, Palmetto police said. They determined that was the vehicle the victim had been driving.

Investigators were eventually able to identify and speak with the truck’s driver, 28-year-old Sony Pina of Palmetto, who suffered a minor injury during the shooting.

Pina wouldn’t name his attacker, but investigators established the shooter is an acquaintance, police said. They’re following up on leads to identify the shooter and the case remains open.