21-Year-Old Tampa Woman Opens Fire During Road Rage Incident, Is Shot and Arrested
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says Aiden Richards fired first; faces multiple felony charges after being wounded in return fire
BRANDON, Fla. — Another Florida road rage incident turned into a scene of gunfire and criminal charges this week, when a 21-year-old Tampa woman allegedly opened fire on another vehicle during a confrontation at a busy Brandon intersection.
The woman, identified as Aiden Richards, was arrested Thursday afternoon after exchanging gunfire with another driver at the intersection of South Hilltop Road and West Brandon Boulevard, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).
Deputies say Richards initiated the violence after a verbal altercation at a red light escalated beyond words—yet another example of how America’s epidemic of anger behind the wheel is intersecting with easy access to firearms.
How the Shooting Unfolded
The incident occurred at approximately 2:19 p.m. on Thursday.
Both vehicles had stopped at the intersection when Richards and the other driver became embroiled in a heated exchange. According to investigators, Richards allegedly retrieved a firearm and fired multiple shots into the other vehicle.
The other driver—who legally possessed a firearm—returned fire, striking Richards in the lower body.
When HCSO deputies arrived at the scene, they found Richards injured. She was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The other driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with law enforcement.
Serious Charges Filed
After an initial investigation, Richards was placed under arrest and now faces a slate of serious felony charges:
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Two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon
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Two counts of Attempted Second-Degree Murder with a Firearm
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Two counts of Shooting Into or Within a Vehicle
Sheriff Chad Chronister condemned Richards’ actions in a public statement:
“This kind of behavior is dangerous, irresponsible, and could have easily ended in tragedy,” he said. “Using a firearm because you’re angry behind the wheel is beyond unacceptable. We will not allow this kind of chaos on our roadways, and those who choose violence will face serious consequences.”
The Larger Problem: Guns and Road Rage Collide
The Brandon incident is just the latest in a string of road rage shootings across Florida and the U.S.—a dangerous phenomenon fueled by both rising tensions and the ubiquity of firearms.
A 2023 study by Everytown for Gun Safety found that road rage incidents involving guns have doubled nationwide since 2018, with Florida ranking near the top for such encounters.
Experts warn that the combination of stress, traffic, and legal access to firearms can turn minor confrontations into potentially lethal ones in seconds.
“We are seeing more and more of these kinds of events,” said a national transportation safety advocate not connected with the case. “This is not about ‘good guys with guns’—this is about the normalization of shooting your way out of an argument.”
Investigation Ongoing
The HCSO says the investigation remains ongoing, and no further details about the second driver’s identity or potential legal status have been released at this time.
Deputies continue to review video footage and witness accounts to fully reconstruct the events leading up to the exchange of gunfire.
As for Richards, she remains in custody while awaiting further legal proceedings—a stark reminder that Florida’s stand-your-ground laws do not protect those who initiate violence.
For now, another Florida intersection becomes another data point in a troubling national trend: an argument turned into a gunfight on a Thursday afternoon, just blocks from homes and businesses.
