Investigation Continues Into Largo Stand Your Ground Shooting

LARGO, FL -- What began as a road rage incident on Thursday may become a Stand Your Ground shooting case.

A man remains in serious condition at Bayfront Medical Center after being shot three times.

According to Largo Police, at 9:53 p.m. on May 30, the injured man, who is in his 40s, apparently became upset over the actions of a 21-year-old motorcyclist who was heading south on 16th Street Northwest. The older man began yelling and waving his arms to get the motorcyclist's attention but the cyclist was wearing a full-faced helmet and didn't see him.

When the motorcyclist momentarily stopped for traffic in the 600 block, Largo Police say the angry man, who was also intoxicated, walked over and punched the motorcyclist through his open visor, leaving a contusion on his face.

The motorcyclist fell over and was briefly trapped under his bike. The angry man came around the motorcycle, and the motorcyclist feared the man, who was larger, would attack him again. The motorcyclist got up and began backing away on foot from the man, telling him to stop and warning him that he had a gun and a concealed weapons permit. Witnesses said the motorcyclist told the man multiple times that he didn't want to shoot him.

However, the older man moved his hand under his vest at his waistline and made a movement toward the motorcyclist, according to police. Fearing for his life, the motorcyclist shot the man three times, hitting him in each arm and the chest.

Police say the older man was wearing a belt sheath for a 6-inch fixed-blade knife, which was found on the ground at the scene. The motorcyclist told police he didn't see the knife, only the man's hand reaching toward his waistband.

The motorcyclist was cooperative with detectives. His name and the name of the other man are not being released at this time. Police say the motorcyclist's gun was legal.

The case is still under investigation and no one has been charged.