‘Afraid for my life:’ Man in deadly road rage shooting at McDonald’s in Daytona Beach claims self-defense

Shooter called 911 after road rage shooting, police say

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A man was killed in a shooting at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Daytona Beach over the weekend, sparking questions about what prompted the incident.

In an incident report released Wednesday, police said they responded to the McDonald’s along LPGA Boulevard shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday following reports of the shooting.

Police said they found a woman performing CPR on a man who had a gunshot wound. Another man identified himself as the shooter had his hand raised while he was on the phone, police said.

Police added that the shooter told them the incident stemmed from a “road rage” incident with another man who was armed with a knife.

“The guy attacked me in the parking lot! I had to defend myself,” the shooter can be heard telling dispatchers during a 911 call. “I was trying to park; he jumped up, jumped out of his car. He said, ‘I will (expletive) you up. I will (expletive) you up.’ And just hit me!”

[LISTEN TO THE FULL 911 CALL IN THE AUDIO PLAYER BELOW]

According to the incident report, the man who was shot — identified by police as Brian Collins, 31 — had blocked the shooter’s vehicle with his own in the parking lot.

Collins then reportedly got out and punched the shooter through the latter’s open driver’s-side car window, prompting the shooter to open fire, the report continues.

Police said the shooter immediately called 911 and placed his firearm in his vehicle’s trunk.

“He hit me, and I made one shot — made one shot,” the shooter stated during the 911 call. “I’m so sorry. I had to do that. I am with my girlfriend. I am with my girlfriend, and he hit, he had a knife, and (illegible) I was afraid for my life. I’m so sorry.”

However, police also released audio from a 911 call by Collins’ girlfriend.

“We were trying to get through the parking lot because my baby was crying, and we were trying to park, and these people were taking forever,” she told dispatchers. “He pulled up. He was an aggressive person. The person backed up (illegible) and he got out of the car, and he started screaming in the window, and the guy took out his gun and shot him!”

[LISTEN TO THE FULL 911 CALL IN THE AUDIO PLAYER BELOW]

After arriving at the scene, police put the shooter in handcuffs, though he was not placed under arrest, investigators announced. At this time, no charges have been filed against the shooter.

No additional information has been provided at this time.


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