DORAL, Fla. – A Miami man was arrested Friday afternoon after police said he fired a gun after a heated exchange with a driver who stopped to taunt him over political views. It all happened not far from a South Florida church where President Donald Trump was visiting.
Doral police said Luis Orlando Diaz, 73, was part of a group who had gathered in the area of Northwest 87th Avenue and 29th Street to watch the president’s motorcade pass through the city.
“We have two gentlemen who … got into an argument pursuant to their individual political views,” Doral police spokesman Rey Valdes said.
Valdes said that a driver passed by the group and lowered his window where he “exchanged words” with Diaz. The driver continued north on NW 87th Avenue, then made a U-turn and went back to the area, according to police. The argument began to escalate, according to the police. That’s when police said Diaz went to his car and got a gun. Diaz then returned to the driver’s car, reached inside the car brandishing the gun and the argument continued. As the driver of the car pulled away from the scene, Diaz fired a shot, striking the tire of the man’s car.
Diaz was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, occupied vehicle burglary with a firearm, and discharging a firearm in public. He was taken to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. The driver did not face any charges.
The incident happened about 20 to 30 minutes after President Donald Trump arrived at Iglesia Doral Jesus Worship Center to hold a roundtable with Venezuelan exiles.
Trump had a busy day in South Florida, which wraps up at a private fundraiser in Hillsboro Beach Friday night.