Tampa Man Accused of Fatally Shooting Man For Driving Too Slow

TOWN 'N' COUNTRY, FL — Hillsborough County sheriff's detectives have arrested a man accused of fatally shooting a person who was driving through a west Hillsborough County neighborhood.

On Nov. 25 at about 8:30 p.m., the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office received a call about a shooting in the area of Chapel Hill Court and Timberlane Drive. When deputies arrived at the 7-Eleven at 8801 N Memorial Highway, they found a man with an upper-body gunshot wound. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue where he died.

Through investigative means, detectives learned that Michael Goggins, 29, was traveling south in the 6700 block of Timberlane Drive in a gray Dodge van when he honked and passed the victim, who was driving a white Ford F-150.

Detectives said Googins drove ahead and stopped at a home, exited the van, pulled a firearm from the back of the vehicle and shot at the white truck as it passed by, striking it several times and hitting the driver. Other passengers in the vehicle were able to escape in the truck to the 7-Eleven and call 911.

Detectives arrested Goggins on Dec. 27 and charged him with one felony count of second-degree attempted murder with a firearm and two counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony with a weapon. He later bonded out of jail.

On Jan. 16, the victim died. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner ruled the death to be a homicide.

"It is absolutely heartbreaking to hear of the violence that fell upon this family by the actions of a person who has no regard for human life. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family who went through the agony of losing a loved one to senseless violence," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "I commend the hard work of our detectives and deputies who were determined to discover the truth, and arrest the suspect responsible."

On Jan. 18, deputies executed a warrant and arrested Michael Goggins. His attempted murder charge has been upgraded to second-degree murder with a firearm.