Federal charges announced for drive-by shooting on I-95

JACKSONVILLE, Florida. – Federal, state and local law enforcement authorities will file charges Wednesday in connection with a drive-by shooting on Interstate 95.

Details of the case were not disclosed before the 11 a.m. press conference outside federal court in downtown Jacksonville, but the presence of St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick suggests the charges could stem from a shooting that occurred on the highway in his area in 2023.

VIDEO: 4 masked men stop a car and start shooting on I-95 in St. Johns County, officials say

According to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, a group of masked men in a red car are believed to be responsible for the shooting that injured two people in October 2023 and caused a mile-long traffic jam on Interstate 95 in St. Johns County.

A one-minute video captured by a semi-truck's dashboard camera shows the moment someone in a red car opened fire on a white Mercedes as it headed south on I-95 near World Golf Village.

The video first shows a white Mercedes traveling south in the left lane. Then the red vehicle driving behind the Mercedes accelerates to change lanes. The video, which contains no audio, then shows the red car slowing down to get alongside the Mercedes before someone in the vehicle fires the first shots.

The driver of the Mercedes then slams on the brakes as more shots are fired at the car. At one point, a bullet can be seen exploding through the rear window.

PREVIOUS STORY: Officials search for red car after brazen shooting on I-95 in St. Johns County that left two people injured

As the red vehicle pulls up, someone is seen hanging out the rear driver's side window and continuing to shoot at the Mercedes. The red car then speeds south onto I-95.

The video does not show the Mercedes crashing, but officers reported that the vehicle struck the median barrier after the driver was shot. A woman in the passenger seat also suffered glass-breaking injuries. Both were taken to the hospital.

The sheriff's office said the victims did not live in St. Johns County and there was no evidence the suspects had any ties to St. Johns County.

Witnesses told officers that there were four masked men in the red car.

Authorities are expected to announce the release of a federal indictment in connection with the shooting on Wednesday morning.