‘Driving super slow’: 24-year-old said he ‘had to’ gun down Jeep driver for ‘blocking me in,’ police say

A road rage incident in Florida has left a local charter boat captain dead, with cops saying he was gunned down by another driver who claimed he took the man’s life because he was “blocking me in” after “driving super slow,” according to court documents.

Jaden Harris, 24, of Lake Mary, is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly killing Joseph Hall Jr., 43, on Thursday evening in Sanford, an Orlando suburb. Local police have accused him of shooting Hall — a charter boat captain for Sailors Choice Party Fishing Boat & Anglers Choice Sport Fishing — during a road rage dispute that allegedly started over Hall driving too slowly. Harris claims Hall was “blocking” him from leaving a parking lot at an apartment complex leasing office.

“I had to because he was blocking me in,” Harris allegedly told arriving officers after being asked if he was the person who shot Hall, according to his arrest report, which has been obtained by Law&Crime. Hall was found lying in front of a gray Jeep Gladiator and “bleeding profusely,” the report says, while Harris was allegedly standing near his white “sedan-style” BMW.

“Contact was made with multiple witnesses present before and after the shooting,” the report recounts. “A witness advised that they were alerted to the incident when they heard an argument taking place outside of the leasing office of the complex. This witness heard that the argument was over someone being blocked in. The witness stated that the argument escalated into a gun being fired.”

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Police say the witness allegedly saw Hall running from Harris toward his Jeep and heard five to six more gunshots. Harris’ vehicle began rolling backward from a speed bump in front of the leasing office, prompting him to “run toward his vehicle” to stop it and put it in park, the arrest report alleges.

Surveillance footage obtained by cops allegedly shows Harris “traveling quickly to catch up to Joseph’s vehicle” before they entered the apartment complex, per the report. Harris told police that Hall “was driving super slow so he decided to drive in the oncoming lanes to pass,” according to investigators.

“Jaden stated that after passing Joseph, Joseph acted as if he was going to hit his vehicle,” the arrest report states.

“Jaden then reverted to an incident that occurred approximately a month ago when he was driving his mother’s vehicle,” the document explains. “Jaden stated that a vehicle caused him to hit a mailbox and because the driver fled from the area, he is now responsible for the damages caused. Jaden stated that he did not want this incident to occur again, so he followed Joseph to take a picture of his tag.”

While driving, Harris said the two men came to a stop sign at the intersection of West Seminole Boulevard and Mangoustine Avenue when Hall pulled up next to him. Harris allegedly told cops that Hall rolled down his window and called him a “p—y” before speeding off.

Harris allegedly told police that once they got to the apartments, Hall “blocked the roadway exiting the complex” and began saying things like “now what’s up, now what’s up” and “what’s all that s— now?” Harris, who was allegedly armed with a handgun, claimed he reversed his vehicle and ordered Hall to “back away” from him while in the leasing complex lot, according to the arrest report.

“Jaden advised that Joseph continued to approach his vehicle and lunged toward his vehicle, causing him to shoot him,” the report says. “Jaden stated that when Joseph first exited from his vehicle, he immediately rolled down his window and let him know, ‘I wasn’t on anything.’ Jaden again advised that when Joseph started to approach his vehicle, he let him know that he ‘had it [his gun] on him.'”

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Harris allegedly admitted to cops that he fired the first shot at Hall while still in the driver’s seat of his vehicle. Harris claimed that he was backing his vehicle away from Hall when he allegedly “lunged at him,” the report says.

“Jaden aggressively followed Joseph from multiple locations to obtain vehicle information without reason,” police allege. “Jaden had several opportunities to disengage from pursuing Joseph but maliciously continued instead.”

During his post-Miranda interview, Harris allegedly never stated that at the time of the incident he was “ever in fear for his life,” the arrest report adds.

“Neither Jaden nor witnesses stated that Joseph was ever in possession of any weapon,” the document concludes. “Joseph did not cause Jaden any injuries or harm to him that would justify the use of deadly force. Due to Jaden using deadly force, Joseph is now deceased.”

Harris has pleaded not guilty to his murder charge and has been ordered held without bond.

The post ‘Driving super slow’: 24-year-old said he ‘had to’ gun down Jeep driver for ‘blocking me in,’ police say first appeared on Law & Crime.