Cape man charged with aggravated assault
Accused of displaying, firing gun into the air, in traffic dispute
A Cape Coral man was arrested after police say he threatened an individual with a gun and shot into the air.
Zachariah Lowman, 39, has been charged with discharging a firearm in public and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.
According to Cape Coral Police Department officials, officers responded to the Circle K gas station on County Club Boulevard last Thursday around 6:15 p.m. in reference to a report of shots fired.
Police officials were told that a man had fired a handgun during a disturbance in the parking lot and then left in a red SUV.
CCPD officials stated that the man who said he was threatened arrived at the department immediately after the incident, and told officers that after getting gas, he was waiting for traffic to clear to drive out of the parking lot and the car behind him was honking and trying to get his attention.
“The victim said he exited his vehicle and explained that he was waiting for traffic to clear,” a release from CCPD states. “At that point, the passenger of the red SUV exited the vehicle and approached him. The victim said the passenger pulled out a handgun and fired a round away from him while threatening to kill him. The victim said the suspect then pushed him backward and pointed the handgun at his head. He said the driver of the red SUV also told him he was going to die.”
Police officials said the man was able to provide a description of the vehicle and its tag number.
“Surveillance video from the Circle K shows the victim pulling up to the exit of the parking lot, followed by the suspect vehicle,” CCPD’s release states. “The victim is seen exiting his vehicle and walking toward the suspect vehicle. The passenger then exits the red SUV and approaches the victim. The suspect appears to point an object at the victim’s upper body as the victim backs away. The passenger then gets back into the red SUV, and the vehicle leaves the scene.”
Police officials stated the witnesses also told officer they saw the complainant leave his vehicle and approach the suspect vehicle, and that the passenger exited, displayed a handgun, and fired one round into the air, then approached the victim and pointed the gun at him.
CCPD officials state a 9mm spent shell casing was recovered from the Circle K parking lot.
Officers went to the address associated with the tag number provided by the victim, and that the suspect vehicle was parked in the driveway.
CCPD officials said the driver was exiting the car, and a man matching the description of the suspect, later identified as Lowman, was also in the driveway. Both men were detained.
“A live round was found on the ground in the driveway near the front passenger-side door of the SUV,” CCPD’s release stated. “A spent shell casing was also found in the driveway closer to the road. Both items were marked ‘9MM.'”
Police officials said the complainant participated in a show-up identification and identified Lowman as the person who pointed a handgun at him. During the execution of a search warrant on the residence and vehicle, police state detectives located a black 9mm handgun inside the vehicle.
Lowman has since been released from Lee County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com