Deputies: Man shoots at vehicle during road rage incident on Merritt Island

Brevard deputies apprehended a Tampa man Sunday night who they said fired a shot from his car at another vehicle during a road rage incident on Merritt Island.

Billy Gene Pinnick, 18, was driving north on Courtenay Parkway in his 2000 blue Jeep Cherokee when he and three other passengers in his vehicle became involved in a verbal altercation with two men in another car, according to an arrest report.

Tod Goodyear, spokesman for the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, said the altercation began over an issue Pinnick had with the victim's driving, though specific details on the incident were not available.

Pinnick began following the men east on Richland Avenue.

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As they approached the 300 block of Richland Avenue, deputies said Pinnick brandished a .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun and fired a round at the 2002 tan Chevrolet pickup truck in front of him.

The bullet struck the back of the truck's cab, in between the two men inside, deputies report.

Pinnick and others inside his vehicle hid the gun in the rear wheel well of the car, according to the arrest report.

Deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 900 block of North Courtenay Parkway after receiving a call about the shooting. A law enforcement dog alerted deputies to the firearm, and also sniffed out marijuana that Pinnick and a juvenile passenger were carrying. Pinnick was in possession of 6.9 grams.

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The suspect and two juveniles in the vehicle with him— a 16- and 17-year-old— were arrested.

Pinnick was booked into the Brevard County Jail about 3 a.m. Monday on an array of charges:

Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill

Discharging a firearm from a vehicle

Possession of marijuana under 20 grams

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Shooting a deadly missile into an occupied vehicle

Using a firearm during a felony

He is being held on a $70,000 bond.