BRADENTON, FL — A Manatee County jury convicted a driver this week in connection with a 2024 road-rage shooting that wounded a pregnant passenger after a traffic crash, state prosecutors said Friday.
Vincent A. Steele was found guilty following a four-day trial of one count of attempted second-degree murder with a firearm, two counts of attempted manslaughter with a firearm, two counts of attempted manslaughter of an unborn child by injury to the mother with a firearm and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the office of State Attorney Ed Brodsky.
The crimes stem from a May 5, 2024, traffic crash investigated by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
According to prosecutors, Steele became angry after the crash, approached the victims' vehicle and opened fire, striking a pregnant woman who was sitting in the passenger seat.
All of the occupants of the victims' vehicle survived the shooting, prosecutors said.
The trial was held Aug. 3-6 at the Manatee County Courthouse.
The convictions carry a maximum possible sentence of 101 years in prison. The attempted second-degree murder conviction with a firearm also carries a 20-year minimum mandatory prison sentence.
A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
"This case shows how a simple traffic accident can escalate into a tragic situation in mere moments when individuals decide to take matters into their own hands," Assistant State Attorney Tyler Egbert, the lead prosecutor in the case, said in a statement.
He continued, "The evidence presented at trial showed there was no justification for the actions of the defendant, and the jury's verdict emphasizes that actions have consequences. We appreciate the hard work over the course of this trial undertaken by the members of the jury. Their time, attention, and consideration in this matter ensure that justice is upheld."
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