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NEWBERRY ‒ A Newberry man was arrested Sunday afternoon after deputies said he pointed a handgun at two teenagers during a road rage incident on Interstate 75.

According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call at the 388 mile marker of southbound I-75, about two miles south of the Northwest 39th Avenue exit, shortly after noon on Sept. 7, 2025. A 17-year-old and an 18-year-old from High Springs told investigators that the driver of another vehicle brandished a firearm while traveling alongside them.

The sheriff’s office identified the suspect as 34-year-old Robert Charles Reno III of Newberry. Investigators determined that the incident began when the victims’ car, traveling in the left lane, slowed suddenly, forcing Reno to brake to avoid a collision. Reno then changed into the center lane, pulled alongside the victims’ vehicle, and allegedly pointed a handgun at them. Fearing they would be shot, the teens sped away.

Deputies located Reno and began questioning him. Initially, he denied having a firearm in his vehicle. He later admitted there was a shotgun but insisted there was no handgun. Eventually, he acknowledged a handgun was inside the car but claimed it was buried and inaccessible while driving.

Reno gave deputies consent to search the vehicle. The search uncovered a handgun magnetically mounted under the steering wheel. When pressed on how the teenagers could have seen the weapon, Reno reportedly demonstrated lifting the firearm with his arm raised toward the left side of the car — a motion consistent with the victims’ statements.

Reno told investigators he was angry because the teens’ sudden braking forced him to reduce his speed from approximately 75–80 mph to about 55–60 mph. He also complained that one of the passengers was leaning out of the car window. Reno admitted the victims never threatened him.

He was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Court records show Reno has no prior criminal history.

Judge Susan Miller-Jones has ordered Reno held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office, which is seeking to keep him in custody until trial. If the motion is denied, the court will set bail at that time.

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Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

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