SANFORD, Fla. — Tributes poured in over the weekend for a South Florida charter boat captain after authorities said the 43-year-old became the victim of a deadly road rage shooting in the Orlando area.
The fatal shooting happened early Thursday evening in Sanford. Police said the victim was Joseph Hall Jr., who captained Sailors Choice Party Fishing Boat & Anglers Choice Sport Fishing out of Key Largo.
Sanford police identified the suspect as Jaden Alexander Harris, 24, of Lake Mary, and arrested him on a second-degree murder charge.
Traffic dispute turns deadly
Authorities said the incident began on State Road 46 and ended at an apartment complex, where officers responding at around 5:25 p.m. found Hall unresponsive in front of his Jeep Gladiator and Harris with his hands in the air.
Police said when they asked Harris if he opened fire, he said, “I had to because he was blocking me in.”
According to an arrest report, Harris told detectives that the incident began while Hall “was driving super slow,” leading Harris to pass him in the oncoming lanes. Harris told investigators that after he passed him, Hall “acted as if he was going to hit his vehicle.”
“Jaden then reverted to an incident that occurred approximately a month ago when he was driving his mother’s vehicle,” the report states. “Jaden stated that a vehicle caused him to hit a mailbox and because the driver fled from the area, he is now responsible for the damages caused. Jaden stated that he did not want this incident to occur again, so he followed Joseph to take a picture of his tag.”
Harris told investigators that while at a stop sign, Hall rolled down his window and called Harris a “p----.”
Police said Harris claimed he “wasn’t trying to run (Hall) down” but kept following him to get a picture of his tag. According to the report, Hall pulled into the apartment complex with Harris following behind in his BMW.
Harris claimed that Hall “blocked the roadway in front of the west gate entry and (he) finally took a picture of his tag” and after trying to maneuver around Hall, Hall “blocked the roadway,” got out of his Jeep and said, “Now what’s up, now what’s up.”
“Jaden stated that he backed his vehicle and told Joseph to back away from him,” the report states. “Jaden advised that Joseph continued to approach his vehicle stating, ‘What’s all that s--- now?’”
Harris claimed he shot Hall after Hall “lunged toward his vehicle,” police said.
“Jaden stated that when Joseph first exited from his vehicle, he immediately rolled down his window and let him know, ‘I wasn’t on anything,’” the report states. “Jaden again advised that when Joseph started to approach his vehicle, he let him know that he ‘had it on him’ (referring to a gun).”
Harris said he fired the first shot at Hall while still in the driver’s seat and said Hall “lunged” at him as he backed his vehicle away.
“Investigators asked Jaden to further describe where Joseph was when he lunged at him and if there was any conversation near his vehicle,” the report states. “This was when Jaden requested to have an attorney present.”
Police: Shooting not justified
In a news release, Sanford Police Department Chief Cecil Smith said investigators concluded that Harris had “several opportunities” to disengage from the situation, but he continued to follow him “unnecessarily.”
Smith said Harris could have made the “simple choice to drive away.”
“What led to this tragic death was a minor traffic issue, followed by Harris’s bad decisions,” Smith said.
Seminole County court records show Harris has pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder charge and was ordered held without bond.
A beloved captain mourned
A representative from Sailor’s Choice told Local 10 News on Tuesday that the company is devastated by Hall’s death, calling him “one of the best.”
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Hall’s wife said he “poured his whole heart” into the company. Friends and customers posted tributes to Hall in the comments section.
“The boats weren’t just work ― they were his passion, his second home, his way to connect with so many of you,” Hall’s wife posted. “He loved being out there on the water, meeting new folks, sharing stories and most of all helping kids and families reel in that first fish.
“Thank you for being a part of his world and for being a part of ours. His spirit will always be on the water.”
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