Cell phone video shows how a road rage incident between a motorcyclist and a man armed with a knife nearly ended with the swipe of a blade before things took an unexpected turn.
This from westernjournal.com.
Rafael Vincent Rivera is currently being held without bond over the incident that transpired at a Flagler County, Florida, intersection on Wednesday.
According to WKMG:
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office investigators say the altercation started when 50-year-old Rivera allegedly cut in front of a motorcycle rider before stopping and exiting his truck with a knife.
The two then confronted each other before the biker’s wife started recording.
Footage shows the two motorists squaring off as Rivera taunts the motorcyclist, telling him to “get on your bike and go!”
Suddenly, things radically escalate as Rivera leans in and swipes his knife seemingly right at the neck of the victim.
Within seconds, the biker opened his vest and drew a concealed firearm on Rivera.
Rivera refused to drop his blade, however, instead phoning police while retreating to his truck.
Click HERE for the full video, filled with as much profanity as you’d expect from a tense armed standoff.
The motorcyclist, as well as Rivera, was detained by police.
However, after interviewing witnesses and reviewing the footage, authorities released the motorcyclist and formally placed Rivera under arrest on a count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill.
Thankfully, the motorcyclist was carrying a handgun. Not all road rage confrontations end this harmlessly, with some resulting in absolute tragedy.
Sometimes armed citizens are able to respond.
Fortunately, the armed victim here had something just as important as a loaded firearm—a cool head under pressure.
If only the lady filming the confrontation had kept her mouth shut, we could say they both remained cool under pressure.
Final thought, an observation: This self-defense incident is a valuable reminder for me that a handgun is for self-defense first, then firing it and perhaps killing an attacker second.
This motorcyclist was not jailed for defending himself because his response was measured and appropriate. Had he fired his weapon, he’d likely still be incarcerated and facing a serious charge.
