An Uber driver fatally shot a man he claimed followed him and tried to run him off the road, in Polk County, Florida.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the shooting, in which 34-year old Jason Boek of Winter Haven, Florida lost his life after 38-year old Robert Westlake pulled the trigger, claiming self-defense.
According to the authorities, the reason why Boek confronted Westlake was because the former’s on-again, off-again girlfriend.
Yet, it would seem that Boek got confused and thought it was his girlfriend who got into Westlake’s Uber, when in fact it was someone else. He then told her he was going to pursue the Uber and beat up the driver, after seeing her walk up to Westlake’s car – even though she was there only to help another woman get in.
Fast forward a bit and a Ford F-250 pickup aggressively approaches the Uber from behind, before overtaking it and pulling over to the side of the road. The Uber driver told authorities that he believed the driver of the pickup was looking to run him off the road.
The footage below provides us with everything we need to know about what went on after Boek got out of his vehicle and started walking towards Westlake’s Hyundai Elantra, making threats.
Westlake, who is a concealed weapon permit holder and a licensed armed security guard, retrieved a gun from his drivers door pocket and fired off one shot at his aggressor. After Boek went down, the Uber driver called 9-1-1 and even attempted to revive the truck driver.
“This is a classic stand-your-ground case,” said Sheriff Grady Judd during a news conference, reports the NY Post.
Boek’s criminal history includes previous arrests for aggravated battery, battery, burglary, marijuana possession, forgery, larceny, resisting arrest and VOP. He was also driving with a suspended license and the truck didn’t even belong to him – it was borrowed from a friend.
In the truck, deputies found a marijuana cigarette and a glass pipe with meth residue inside.
Note: Some viewers might find the footage disturbing