Florida State Attorney Urges Caution as Road Rage Gun Incidents Surge in Central Florida

📍 Orlando, FL — September 27, 2025

Amid a troubling rise in road rage incidents involving firearms across Central Florida, Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell is sounding the alarm and urging drivers to stay calm and disengage when confronted on the road.

Following a string of recent arrests where drivers allegedly brandished or discharged firearms during traffic disputes, Worrell emphasized the growing danger posed by armed confrontations. “It’s really just the terrifying reality that we are dealing with today,” she said. “I want this road rage not to become normalized”.

Florida’s new open-carry law has increased the number of legally armed motorists, but Worrell warns that many lack proper training and understanding of responsible gun ownership. “The more guns we introduce into our community, then the more gun violence we are going to see,” she stated.

Worrell shared a personal experience of being blocked from merging by two vehicles, choosing instead to “inhale, exhale and keep moving” rather than escalate the situation. She advises drivers to adopt a similar approach: “Get out of that situation as quickly as you possibly can. Don’t engage. Don’t respond. Call law enforcement. Report the individual and don’t try to take matters into your own hands”.

Law enforcement agencies across Florida are echoing her concerns. Data from gun violence tracking groups show a 400% increase in road rage shootings nationwide from 2014 to 2023, with Florida ranking among the top ten states for such incidents.

The message from officials is clear: patience and restraint could be lifesaving. As Worrell puts it, “Assume others may be armed—and act accordingly.”