Background: The Wawa location in Zephyrhills, Fla. (Google Maps). Inset: Quinson Croson (Hillsborough County Sheriff”s Office).
A Florida man was charged with attempted murder after police said he allegedly shot an acquaintance after chasing him down in his garbage truck.
On Monday, the Zephyrhills Police Department shared on Facebook that a 46-year-old man named Quinson Croson was arrested after a series of dramatic events, including an alleged shooting, a verbal confrontation at a Wawa gas station, and a garbage truck chase. The incident began when detectives were alerted to the arrival of Brandon Raymon Lee, whose age wasn’t specified, at AdventHealth Zephyrhills hospital. Lee had suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his right arm.
Lee reportedly told police that Croson shot him after a verbal confrontation at Wawa “quickly escalated into violence.”
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Details from a criminal complaint examined by Law&Crime reveal that Lee, along with his co-worker J’Nyith Reyes, encountered Croson at the Wawa on Friday morning. Lee, familiar with Croson as a local bar owner, exchanged greetings with him but noticed a strong scent of alcohol. Out of concern, he suggested to Croson “in a friendly manner” that he might consider heading home. However, this prompted Croson to react angrily, leading to an argument between the two men.
According to the complaint, Reyes informed authorities that during the discussion, Lee referred to Croson as “silly,” a comment which seems to have escalated the situation and upset Croson.
Local NBC affiliate WFLA interviewed Zephyrhills Police Chief Derek Brewer, who told the outlet that the advice was apparently received by Croson “as some sort of disrespect.” Brewer also said that Lee “was trying to keep [Croson] from hurting himself or hurting someone else, showed some compassion. He was really trying to do the right thing.”
Despite Lee’s good intentions, Croson got into his SUV and followed Lee and Reyes to the garbage truck they were using for work that morning.
Dashcam footage from the truck was provided to WFLA by the police department and showed Lee and Reyes in the front seats. One of them shouted to Croson, “Chill, bro!”
During the chase, police stated that Croson allegedly “retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and fired multiple rounds at the garbage truck while pursuing it through city streets.” Lee was hit in his right arm.
Croson’s SUV then collided with the garbage truck, which caused Reyes to be ejected from the passenger side of the vehicle. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at AdventHealth Dade City. Croson then allegedly fled the scene in his damaged SUV.
Police said Croson was eventually located and taken into custody. He was charged with two counts of attempted homicide and one count of possession of a weapon by a gang-related felon. He is in custody at the Pasco County Detention Center, where he is being held without bail.
His next court date was not made available.
