Bradenton road rage turned deadly after soda was thrown. Shooter is heading to prison

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Bradenton road rage turned deadly after soda was thrown. Shooter is heading to prison

A confrontation allegedly sparked by a thrown Coca-Cola has resulted in a Bradenton man being sentenced to more than two decades in prison for manslaughter in a deadly road rage incident.

Circuit Judge Frederick Mercurio sentenced 26-year-old Nicholas Anthony Koontz to 25 years in prison, with credit for time served, for the fatal shooting of Timothy P. Andricks, according to court records.

Following his prison sentence, Koontz will serve five years of probation, which will include substance abuse and mental health evaluations.

The sentencing comes after

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. Court records show Koontz has filed an appeal, signaling his intent to challenge the verdict.

“We are pleased that Mr. Koontz was not convicted of what he was charged with, *******, but disappointed that he was found guilty of the lesser offense of manslaughter,” Koontz’s trial attorney, Roger Futerman, said in October.

Koontz’s sentencing comes more than three years after detectives

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in the roadway at Seventh Avenue West and 50th Court West in Bradenton.

Nicholas Koontz, 26, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Timothy P. Andricks, according to court records.

Road rage shooting began with thrown Coke

Prosecutors said during the April trial that the road rage altercation began when Andricks allegedly cut Koontz off and threw a drink at his car. After both men exited their vehicles, detectives said, Koontz shot Andricks 11 times, killing him.

Koontz admitted to shooting Andricks, 31, but argued that he acted in self-defense, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.

“In that split second, in that life-or-death scenario, I believe if I didn’t act right then and there, I was going to die, and my only option was to shoot in self-defense,” Koontz testified.

Prosecutors, however, described the shooting as an act of road rage driven by anger.

“The defendant created this situation. He escalated this situation. He made it worse and then complained when it went foul,” Assistant State Attorney Suzanne O’Donnell said during the trial.

The events leading up to the shooting, which were captured on a neighbor’s doorbell camera, were heavily contested throughout the trial.

Prosecutors shoot down self-defense argument

Koontz testified that on Oct. 12, 2021, he was driving home from work on Ninth Avenue West when Andricks cut him off, forcing him to swerve. Koontz said Andricks flipped him off, yelled aggressively, and

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filled with Coca-Cola and ice at his car, striking him in the temple and spilling soda inside.

Koontz also alleged that Andricks told him, “I ought to kill you.”

When Andricks reversed his car and began driving in the opposite direction, Koontz said he turned around to follow Andricks to get his license plate and report him to the police.

Prosecutors argued, however, that Koontz followed Andricks out of anger.

Doorbell camera footage shown during the trial appeared to show a silver Toyota Camry stopping abruptly at a stop sign while being followed by a ****** Volvo. Andricks, identified as the man driving the Camry, exited his vehicle and approached Koontz, who then shot him.

Koontz said that he could not see Andricks’ right arm when Andricks approached, suggesting he believed Andricks could have been armed. Prosecutors rejected that argument.

“Is it reasonable to shoot somebody who has no weapon?” Assistant State Attorney Rebecca Freel asked during closing arguments. “There was no basis to believe that Mr. Andricks had a gun.”

Eleven shell casings were found on the scene, according to detectives.

Investigators also said they found a Glock 26 handgun on Koontz’s dresser the day of the shooting after searching his home.

The state pressed Koontz repeatedly during the trial about why he never called 911 if the shooting was in self-defense, as he alleged.

Koontz said he intended to call law enforcement after he got home, but when he got out of the shower, deputies were already at his door looking to question him.

“Mr. Andricks probably shouldn’t have chucked that Coke, but he shouldn’t have died for it,” Freel said during the trial.

10/12/21—Officials investigate the scene of a ********* at the intersection of 7th Avenue West and 50th Street Court West. The Manatee County Sheriff’s office arrested Nicholas Koontz and charged him with the 2nd degree ******* of Timothy Andricks.

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