Charlotte County man accused of brandishing revolver during road rage incident

Carson ZornIsaias SotoCHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. —

A road rage confrontation in Port Charlotte escalated Thursday afternoon when a man allegedly pulled a revolver from his SUV and threatened another driver before deputies tracked him down just feet from the scene and arrested him.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a road rage call around 1:20 p.m. near Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) and West Tarpon Boulevard.

The victim told deputies that 41-year-old Sean McCartney was driving a black SUV when he pulled a revolver from beneath the driver’s seat, displayed it while yelling and cursing, then drove away.

Deputies quickly located McCartney nearby at the Sanctuary Plaza, where a bystander captured a photo of deputies placing him in handcuffs.

During questioning, McCartney admitted there was a revolver inside the SUV that had previously belonged to his father, according to the arrest report. He told deputies he had previously been to prison and was prohibited from possessing firearms, adding that he had been trying to sell the gun.

McCartney was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is being held at the Charlotte County Jail on a $75,000 bond.

The incident has left some Port Charlotte residents concerned about how quickly road rage situations can escalate.

“Just like you never know what people do, what people act like, how their day is,” said Port Charlotte resident Cole O’Neil. “Any little thing… it’s just like a flip switch.”

Ethan Baab said the incident highlights the dangers drivers can face.

“It’s kind of scary knowing someone could just pull a gun on me over something as simple as they think I’m driving too slow or too fast,” Baab said.

Neighbor Adrienne Graves said aggressive driving has become increasingly common in the area.

“They just cut you off. They flip you off. I’m afraid one of these days they’re going to scream at you. You’re wondering if they’ll have a gun in their car with them,” Graves said.

Kiesha Knight said drivers need to remember the importance of staying calm behind the wheel.

“There’s no need for it. It’s just called patience,” Knight said. “Slow down and wait. There’s no reason for a rush. Because you rush and do the wrong thing, something bad happens.”

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.