A Florida man faces 22 charges after allegedly chasing down a car and firing three bullets into it during a road rage incident. The most disturbing detail may be that three children were riding in his SUV the entire time. Their presence did not appear to slow him down.

The Florida Highway Patrol received reports of a road rage shooting on Interstate 75. By the time troopers caught up, the victim was exiting the highway with an SUV following closely behind. The victim ran a red light in an attempt to escape. But 33-year-old Genaldo Mercado continued the pursuit.

Children found inside the suspect’s SUV

Mercado eventually noticed police vehicles and attempted to veer back onto I-75. Officers caught up quickly, and a Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputy stopped the SUV. Deputies found a handgun and spent shell casings inside the vehicle. They also found another adult passenger and three children, ages 12, 8, and 4.

Investigators confirmed that three bullets had struck the victim’s vehicle. Mercado admitted he fired the shots. He told officers he feared for his life. He claimed someone in the other car threw an object at his SUV.

Officers rejected that explanation. Police booked Mercado into the county jail on 22 charges, including:

• Child neglect (three counts)
• Discharging a firearm from a vehicle (three counts)
• Shooting at, within, or into a vehicle (three counts)
• Attempted first-degree premeditated murder with a firearm (five counts)
• Reckless driving
• Criminal mischief
• Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (five counts)
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony