Months After June Crash, Man Charged With Vehicular Homicide, Manslaughter: Police

SARASOTA, FL — A Bradenton man was charged with vehicular homicide, manslaughter and knowingly driving with a suspended license months after a deadly June crash in Sarasota.

Jordan Schopfer, 30, was arrested in Manatee County by U.S. Marshals, Sarasota police said in a news release. The crash was investigated by the Sarasota Police Department’s traffic unit.

When the crash happened, Schopfer’s driver's license was suspended for a DUI with personal injury, with previous suspensions for DUI and failing to pay a traffic fine from 2020. Additionally, he was on probation for arson charges, police said.

On June 12 at 5:30 p.m., a 60-year-old motorcyclist from Sarasota was killed in a collision with a car drive by Schopfer in the 1200 block of North Beneva Road. The victim’s name is being withheld under Marsy’s law.

Witnesses told investigators the motorcyclist was driving southbound on North Beneva Road while Schopfer was initially driving northbound in the road’s outside lane. They said Schopfer moved from the outside lane to the inside lane, but made no effort to correct the car, according to police.

Schopfer continued driving at an angle over the raised concrete median and into the southbound lanes, hitting the motorcyclist, witnesses said.

In Schopfer’s car, officers found a can of compressed air and a receipt with a purchase time of the compressed air 12 minutes before the crash. They also found a bag that had a restaurant-style whipping container inside.

Surveillance video showed Schopfer purchasing a can of compressed air in a store while wearing the same clothes he was wearing at the time of the crash. Video from outside the store shows Schopfer getting into the same car involved in the crash. The car was seen on camera nearly hitting a pedestrian in the parking lot, as well as rear-ending a parked car, police said.

On June 26, officers developed probable cause that Schopfer “huffed or snorted” nitrous oxide to “get high,” police said.

Schopfer is being held at the Manatee County Jail on no bond.