JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two men who were suspected of running a large-scale drug operation have been accused in a brazen drive-by shooting on Interstate 95 last year in St. Johns County.
Federal investigators said Nathaniel Hatcher and James Toney were two of the four masked men inside a car when at least one of the passengers fired at another car as it was speeding down the highway. The shooting injured two passengers in Oct. 2023 and caused a miles-long traffic backup on Interstate 95 in St. Johns County.
Investigators said it was a targeted hit with a high-powered weapon.
VIDEO: 4 masked men pull up to car, start shooting on I-95 in St. Johns County, deputies say
Hatcher, 28, and Toney, 20, also face federal gun and drug charges and could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.
Hatcher is accused of conspiring to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, conspiring to straw-purchase guns to help the drug operation, money laundering and witness tampering.
A minute-long video captured by a semi-truck’s dash cam shows the moment when someone inside a red car opened fire on a white Mercedes while it was driving south on I-95 near World Golf Village.
The video starts showing a white Mercedes driving in the left southbound lane. Then the red vehicle, which was riding behind the Mercedes, speeds up to switch lanes. The video, which does not have sound, then shows the red car slow down to get alongside the Mercedes before someone inside fires the first shots.
The driver of the Mercedes then slams on their brakes as more shots are fired into the car. At one point, a bullet can be seen exploding through the back window.
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As the red vehicle pulls in front, someone can be seen hanging out the back driver’s side window and continuing to fire shots back at the Mercedes. The red car then speeds off south on I-95.
The video does not show the Mercedes crashing but deputies reported that the vehicle hit the center guard rail after the driver was shot. A woman riding in the passenger seat suffered glass-break injuries as well. Both were taken to the hospital.
Witnesses told deputies that there were four men wearing masks in the red car.
Also in the indictment, investigators said Yaquasia DelCarmen, 28, previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money and distribute more than 100 pounds of marijuana using Airbnb and other rental homes.
Times Union: Pot, guns at Airbnb? Jacksonville woman pleads in drug-ring case using short-term rentals
Authorities said they are still searching for the other two suspects who were in the car during the shooting.
