Inset: Isaiah MacDonald (Lake County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The region near Buckhorn Road and 445A in Lake County, Florida, where Isaiah MacDonald is accused of attempting to hit an old childhood friend with his vehicle (Google Maps).
A man from Florida reportedly spotted a childhood friend test-driving a motorcycle and decided to pursue him, allegedly shooting at him while persistently trying to drive him off the road with his Jeep Cherokee, according to authorities. Following the incident, he supposedly sent a text to the victim, asking, “When’s a good time to come over?”
Isaiah MacDonald, 23, faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied vehicle, firing a weapon from a vehicle, and drug possession after authorities reportedly discovered marijuana, heroin, and ammunition in his Jeep after the events unfolded.
The victim’s mother ended up finding MacDonald after the attack occurred on Sunday afternoon, as per the police. “After the victim recounted the events to her, she decided to search for the vehicle at the location she knows MacDonald frequents,” states an arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime on Tuesday.
“Arriving at the scene, she recognized a white Jeep Cherokee matching the description at a home on Lightfoot Road,” the affidavit explains. “She reported seeing [MacDonald] leaving the vehicle, retrieving an item from beneath the Jeep’s seat, entering the house, and later exiting without the item.”
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported they responded to a call from the victim, who claimed MacDonald pursued and shot at him while he was driving in the Astor area. The man informed authorities he was trying out a motorcycle when he saw MacDonald “tailgating closely” and “acting aggressively,” according to the affidavit.
“[The victim] explained that he was in fear for his life,” cops allege. “[The victim] attempted to evade the vehicle by increasing his speed and making several turns, including onto Buckhorn Road and 445A. He reported that the Jeep continued to pursue him, and at one point, he observed the driver … pointing a firearm out of the vehicle’s window.”
According to police, the victim “described the firearm used as a pistol, possibly dark silver or black in color, and stated that it resembled a Glock.” The victim also told police that “he did not believe the firearm to be a revolver style handgun.”
The victim tried repeatedly to get away from his old “friend” — even entering the “oncoming traffic lane” at one point, the affidavit says. “He noted that during one of the turns, the motorcycle’s peg scraped the ground, causing him to momentarily lose control,” according to police. The victim said the Jeep continued to follow him and fired a second shot near the intersection of 445A and the Astor Cutoff Road.
The man told police he “recognized” MacDonald from being “friends while growing up,” per cops. He explained that he had not been in contact with MacDonald “for years” but randomly received a text message from him “shortly after the incident,” according to the affidavit. The man provided screenshots of the alleged text conversation, which included MacDonald asking, “When’s a good time to come over?” and denying involvement when “confronted about the shooting,” the affidavit says.
After the victim’s mom tracked MacDonald down, she called police and told them what she saw and where he was, per the affidavit. MacDonald was eventually located at a Circle K gas station and interviewed about what happened. Deputies who caught up to him allegedly saw a box of ammunition “in plain view” and asked to search his car, to which he obliged, according to cops.
“The search yielded approximately 60 grams of a green leafy substance, one in a sealed unmarked package, and 2 small Ziplock style baggies,” the affidavit alleges. “A partial box of .38 Special ammunition, several rounds of spent .38 Special casings, an empty box of.040 caliber ammunition, and a black magazine containing 14 rounds of live .040 caliber ammunition.”
Deputies also allegedly found “smoking devices … grinders, a large torch, six barrels for a .38 Special, and a scale,” according to police. MacDonald was arrested and booked on his charges at the Lake County Detention Center. A witness allegedly identified him as the driver of the Jeep and said he had a portion of the incident on his security camera.
MacDonald was released Monday on bond and is awaiting his next court date.
