POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Winter Haven father and his 15-year-old son face several charges, including attempted murder, after shooting at a woman’s car near their apartment, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to an apartment complex located at 4900 Cypress Gardens Road in Winter Haven in reference to a shooting Saturday, deputies said.
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A man living at the complex checked his mail and noticed a delivery of prescription medication intended for another unit. The man then took the package to the correct address, hanging it on the apartment’s door handle, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies said the delivery triggered the apartment’s doorbell camera, which alerted both 73-year-old Gino Colonacosta and his son, 15-year-old Rocky Colonacosta, both of whom were inside.
After receiving the alerts, deputies said Rocky Colonacosta grabbed a handgun and looked out the front door. After not seeing anyone, he contacted Gino Colonacosta, who also grabbed a handgun, deputies said.
At this time, both the father and son left the apartment and split up to look for the person whom they believed was trying to break into their home, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies said that while Rocky Colonacosta looked around the the perimeter of the apartment building, Gino Colonacosta checked the parking lot.
Gino Colonacosta then found a parked car near their apartment with a woman inside who had returned home from work, deputies said. According to an arrest affidavit, the 73-year-old man then commanded the woman to exit the car.
After seeing Gino Colonacosta holding a gun behind her car and telling her to get out, the woman — fearful for her life — put her car in reverse and drove backward to get away from the man, deputies said.
According to the sheriff’s office, Rocky Colonacosta heard his father yelling and ran toward the parking lot. Deputies said the boy saw the woman reversing her car and shot at her, trying to shoot out a tire.
The woman continued to drive away from Rocky and Gino Colonacosta as they shot at her car and yelled for her to stop, deputies said. She eventually made her way to a convenience store, where she notified law enforcement, records show.
Deputies said Rocky and Gino Colonacosta also contacted law enforcement after the vehicle left the scene.
According to the arrest affidavit, Rocky Colonacosta fired a total of five shots, and Gino Colonacosta fired twice. While the woman’s car was struck multiple times, the woman herself survived the incident, deputies said.
Deputies said Gino Colonacosta also put his son at risk by providing the firearm that Rocky Colonacosta used.
Gino Colonacosta faces the following charges:
- Attempted felony murder
- Contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child
- Possession of firearms by minor under 18 prohibited
- Attempts, solicitation, and conspiracy
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
- Culpable negligence
- Discharging firearm in public or on residential property
- Improper exhibition of dangerous weapons or firearms
Rocky Colonacosta faces the following charges:
- Attempted felony murder
- Possession of firearms by minor under 18 prohibited
- Attempts, solicitation, and conspiracy
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
- Culpable negligence
- Discharging firearm in public or on residential property
- Improper exhibition of dangerous weapons or firearms
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