ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police say they have the man responsible for a road rage shooting in east Orlando, as well as a “disturbing” weapons crime that first surfaced on social media.
The department said Traviance Polite Jr., 19, was arrested Wednesday following the shooting on South Semoran Boulevard Tuesday afternoon, between Curry Ford Road and La Costa Drive.
Detectives said Polite was stopped at the intersection of Curry Ford Road and Semoran Boulevard on Tuesday, having an argument with his girlfriend. Polite told police he saw the victim and that man’s girlfriend laughing at them and opened fire, according to police.
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“The suspect reached the firearm over his girlfriend — who was pregnant, or is pregnant — and fired two shots out his passenger window. It went through the door of our victim. One bullet went into the cushion of his seat and the other through the side of his stomach,” said Detective Phil McMican.
The victim remains in the hospital and lost “a good portion of his stomach and intestines as a result of the injuries,” according to police.
Following the shooting, the victim said he ran from his car to a nearby business for help.
You can see surveillance video of the victim running for help below. Warning: the video may be difficult to watch for some people.
The victim was badly hurt and rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center. He was conscious and alert when he got to the hospital, according to police.
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Police said the second “disturbing” weapons crime initially surfaced on social media, specifically Instagram, on March 31.
Detective Michael Glatthorn said he received a video (seen above) showing Polite leaning out of a car window, pointing a gun equipped with a laser sight at a runner. The detective said police were able to determine that the video was shot in the 5800 block of Grant Street.
“It took a while to find the runner, but I was actually able to track him down yesterday,” Glatthorn said. “He remembers the incident. He thought it was just some kids playing around with a laser pointer. So when I told him — and I actually showed him the video — he was shocked. He could not believe it.”
Investigators said they began following Polite on social media and saw him with the same gun in several other pictures and videos. Detectives said they were able to determine where he lived and began surveilling him, hoping to catch him with the gun.
“As we were actually doing surveillance, we saw the violent crimes units in the same area,” Glatthorn said. “We got in contact with them, and determined that they were possibly looking for the same guy that posted that video of him pointing the gun at the runner.”
Following his arrest on Wednesday, Polite provided police with a full confession to both crimes, according to the detectives.
Polite now faces charges for attempted second-degree murder, shooting from a vehicle, reckless display of a gun, carrying a concealed gun and possession of a gun by a known delinquent.
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