Cops: Road Raging Man Pulled Gun With 2 Kids Present

A 39-year-old Spring Hill man faces a host of charges after Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies say he pulled a gun on a fellow motorist with two small children present.

The incident began Thursday around 2:10 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 92 and Branch Forbes Road. There motorist Mark Edward Cook thought that his Chevy Malibu had been struck in the rear by a truck driven by Jason Lee Foster, 28, an email to media from the sheriff’s office stated.

Cook became upset that Foster left the scene of the alleged accident, the email said. So, he decided to follow “Foster recklessly and ultimately blocked Foster’s vehicle at the dead end of Shepherd Road and Poultry Farm Lane,” causing a minor crash.

At that point, deputies say Cook got out of his car and pointed a small black handgun at Foster, threatening his life as he approached the truck. Cook then opened Foster’s door and punched Foster, the email stated. Foster’s 5-year-old son Hunter was in the vehicle at the time.

Foster, deputies say, was able to shut his door and protect himself and his son until deputies arrived on the scene.

“Deputies responded and advised that no traffic crash had occurred at the original incident scene, as Cook claimed,” the sheriff’s office email stated.

Cook’s daughter, Leila, 2, was in his vehicle throughout the incident.

Cook was ultimately charged with two counts each of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (firearm), aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (motor vehicle) and child neglect. He also faces a single count of armed burglary of a conveyance.

Cook remained in the Hillsborough County Jail Friday without bond.

Photo credit: Mark Cook/Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

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