'Road rage' shooter identified by Indian River County Sheriff's Office

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The man who shot and killed Dennis Wayne Hicks in a "road rage" incident was Timothy Daniel Sartori, the Indian River County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday.

Sartori, 29, of Sebastian, fatally shot Hicks about 7 p.m. Thursday on State Road 60. A female passenger in his car was identified as Melissa Antler, 27, also of Sebastian.

Sartori is an instructor at Skydive Sebastian. Records show he is also president of Timothy Sartori Parachute Services Inc.

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Sartori and Hicks, 38, of Fort Pierce, both were traveling east in the 5300 block of S.R. 60 when Sartori reached out of his window while both were stopped at a traffic light and fired several shots, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Sartori then pulled into a parking lot facing the shooting scene and dialed 911, according to Lt. Thom Raulen, spokesman for the Sheriff's Office.

"I just shot somebody at the corner of S.R. 60 and 53rd Avenue," he calmly told dispatchers in the 911 call.

"You shot somebody?" the dispatcher asked.

"Yes, in self-defense," Sartori said. "People are panicking."

There have been no charges filed against Sartori or Antler, said Raulen and Assistant State Attorney Steve Gosnell, the prosecutor assigned to the case.

"When they complete their investigation, I will examine the totality of it," Gosnell said Tuesday. "Any discussion of charges, I would certainly be involved in."

Gosnell said there was not probable cause for an arrest.

Sartori could not be reached for comment Tuesday. A home at the address listed in court records and business filings, in the 8600 block of 126th Lane, was vacant and for sale. A neighbor said he moved in the past couple of months.

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On the phone with dispatch, Sartori said he did not know Hicks.

Investigators were not releasing whether a firearm was found in Hicks' vehicle.

A car traveling west was hit by four shots, but neither the driver — Michael Clemente — nor his 3-year-old son were injured, Raulen said.

The victim was angered by a third motorist when Hicks, Sartori and that driver were stopped at S.R. 60 and 58th Avenue on Thursday night, Raulen said.

Hicks was honking his horn at the third motorist, who Raulen said hasn't been identified or located.

When the light changed, all three drivers turned east onto S.R. 60 from 58th Avenue. Sartori was driving a silver Mazda in the right-hand lane. Hicks was driving a red Toyota in the center lane.

Moments later, Sartori and Hicks stopped at 53rd Avenue, in front of a strip of shops near Walmart and Applebee's.

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Sartori told dispatchers Hicks asked him what his problem was.

"He said, 'I'm gonna put a bullet in your ass.' And then he reached for something and I had my gun and I opened fire on him," Sartori said on the call.

Hicks died at the scene.

'A family man'

Hicks left behind two young daughters, one 3 years old and one 5. He had their names tattooed on his shoulders, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Robby Stone, a Vero Beach attorney, represented Hicks in the past.

"While I understand that Dennis Hicks was not a saint, the man we knew was not just his criminal record," he said. "Dennis was a very thoughtful, caring and hard-working man. He loved his family dearly, and would give you the shirt off of his back if he could. He is gone from this world way too soon."

Stone, who had been in contact with Hicks' relatives, said they asked for privacy as they grieve.

Hicks' family began a GoFundMe campaign to raise $2,500 for a funeral.

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