Staff Report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In the early hours today, 36-year-old Katie Jo McClain from Starke found herself under arrest following an alleged road rage altercation involving a firearm near West University Avenue and 13th Street.
Around 1:11 a.m., a Gainesville Police Department officer arrived at the Holiday Inn located at 1250 W. University Avenue. The incident arose when the victim reported a confrontation with four individuals in a pickup truck, during which one allegedly brandished a gun.
The victim recounted being stopped eastbound on West University Avenue, waiting to turn into the Holiday Inn but was hindered by oncoming traffic. The pickup truck behind him reportedly began honking aggressively, urging him to make the turn. Agitated, he exited his vehicle to confront the truck’s occupants. According to the victim, all four individuals exited the truck and attempted to engage him physically on the roadway. He specifically noted that a slender woman in a black sweatshirt reached toward her back waistband, partially revealing what appeared to be a holstered gun, instilling fear for his safety.
Another officer later identified a pickup truck consistent with the victim’s description and executed a felony traffic stop on the 400 block of East University Avenue.
All four individuals from the truck were taken into custody. They confirmed involvement in a road rage incident at the 1200 block of West University Avenue. McClain, wearing a black sweatshirt, fit the victim’s description.
All of the occupants of the pickup truck reportedly said they had gotten into an argument with the victim after the driver blew his horn at the victim because they wanted him to move. They said the victim got out of his vehicle and walked toward them, yelling at them, and they got out of their vehicle to argue with the victim. They said they eventually calmed down and left, and they were surprised to be stopped by law enforcement.
A search of the pickup truck reportedly produced three handguns and a rifle.
A witness provided video that reportedly showed all four occupants of the pickup truck surrounding the victim, trying to get him to fight and calling him a racial epithet and other derogatory terms.
Post Miranda, McClain reportedly said she could not remember what happened because she was under stress; she also mentioned that she was trying to protect her husband during the incident. She reportedly admitted that one of the guns found in the pickup truck, a pistol in a holster, was hers.
McClain has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She has no local criminal history, and she has been released from the jail.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
