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The incident took place in Trumbull around 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, at the Trumbull Target on Hawley Lane.
Robert Butler, age 27, of Bridgeport, was arrested and charged after police responded to the store after a man called reporting that a man had pointed a gun at him during a road rage incident, said Lt. Brian Weir, of the Trumbull Police.
Arriving officers met with the driver who said that as they were driving through the Target parking lot, a vehicle operated by Butler attempted to cut them off. Butler then pulled his vehicle next to the driver's vehicle when words were exchanged between both men, Weir said.
Butler then pointed the barrel of his firearm at the other motorist, and he then left the area, police said.
Weir said Butler also called the police to report the incident, and he returned to the scene a short time later.
He told police that when he was stopped in his vehicle, he was almost struck from behind by the other vehicle. The other vehicle then pulled next to his vehicle and stopped. Butler said that was when the other driver pointed towards Butler, but he could not see what the other operator was holding, Weir added.
Butler said that was when he pulled out his gun that was stored inside his backpack.
Officers recovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun from Butler’s backpack that was on the passenger’s seat of his vehicle. The firearm had eight 9mm bullets in the magazine, and there was one 9mm bullet loose inside the backpack, police said.
No other firearms were located and no injuries were reported regarding the incident.
Butler was charged with threatening and breach of peace and held on a $20,000 bond.
He is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Monday, March 13.
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