A 23-year-old Miami man was arrested Saturday night by Sweetwater police in connection with a road rage shooting that occurred near Dolphin Mall. Yerard Collado called 911 and reported that he had gotten into an argument with another driver, and the other driver exited his vehicle and approached him while holding a gun, according to an arrest report. Collado told the dispatcher that he then fired at the other driver, who returned to his vehicle and drove away.
Police said officers responded to the Courtyard by Marriott Miami at Dolphin Mall on Northwest 12th Street at about 7:45 p.m. and found Collado in the lobby area. Police said he spontaneously told them that he had been involved in a road rage incident and had fired shots outside of his car toward an unknown person. According to the report, officers located Collado’s black Honda Civic, which had four distinct bullet holes in it, along with shattered glass.
After being transported to the Sweetwater Police Department, Collado declined to speak with detectives without his attorney present, authorities said. According to the report, the other person involved in the road rage incident has not been identified or located. The circumstances surrounding how Collado’s vehicle sustained four bullet holes while he reported firing at the other driver remain unclear from the police report.
Road rage incidents have become an increasing concern for South Florida law enforcement agencies, particularly in high-traffic areas near major shopping centers like Dolphin Mall. The Sweetwater area, which borders Miami-Dade County’s busy commercial districts, has seen various traffic-related incidents as the region continues to experience population growth and increased vehicle congestion. The Dolphin Mall area specifically attracts thousands of visitors daily, making it a location where traffic tensions can escalate quickly.
Collado was arrested on a charge of discharging a firearm from a vehicle, a felony under Florida law that carries significant penalties. As of Monday morning, he was being held in the Metrowest Detention Center. Online jail records listed his bond as to be set, indicating he had not yet appeared before a judge for a bond hearing.
The investigation remains active as Sweetwater police continue searching for the other driver involved in the incident. Authorities have not released a description of the second vehicle or driver, and it remains unclear whether that person will face any charges related to the confrontation. The case highlights the dangers of road rage incidents escalating to violence, particularly when firearms are involved.
Collado’s next court appearance has not yet been scheduled, and the State Attorney’s Office will determine whether additional charges will be filed pending the ongoing investigation.