Police say road rage drove man to kill federal agent
PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (WSVN) -- Police said road rage drove a man to shoot and kill a federal agent at a post office parking lot.
At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Commander Mike Segarra of the Pembroke Pines Police Department said 65-year-old James Wonder of Miramar shot and killed 52-year-old Donald Pettit after a verbal altercation erupted between the two of them while driving on Dykes Road.
The Tuesday morning road rage incident escalated in a post office parking lot. "There was some type of a situation going on between both of them," Segarra said. "The suspect's vehicle would drive around the officer's vehicle and pull in front, slam on his brakes. A lot of things going on. Againm this is part of the investigation."
Sagarra said Wonder admitted to police he shot Pettit after he first pulled into the parking lot with Pettit following him. "He was shot one time in the back of the head," Segarra said.
Pettit's 12-year-old daughter Gabriella Pettit, who was in the car with her father, witnessed her father die before her very eyes. She provided details for a sketch that led to hundreds of tips. Segarra said her strength in providing details of the suspect's appearance were instrumental in catching their man.
Police followed a tip that resulted from the publicity of the sketch to a Davie dialysis center the following day where they took Wonder into custody without incident. Police spoke with him for hours, when, Segarra admitted to shooting Pettit.
Police said the confiscated the alleged murder, as well. "We were able to obtain several items, including the gun," Segarra said.
Segarra added that Wonder tried to cover up his tracks after the shooting. He put his car in his home's garage and rented a car to make it to dialysis the next day. Police also said he greased his hair in order to make it darker.
According to Segarra, the Department of Homeland Security considered the U.S. Customs agent on duty at the time of his death.
A public viewing will be held today for Pettit from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Omni Auditorium at Broward Community College in Coconut Creek.
The funeral service will be held at the VA Cemetery In Lake Worth at 3 p.m.
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