A Florida man, Nicholas Koontz, aged 35, was found guilty of manslaughter with a firearm following a three-day trial in Manatee County. The trial concluded on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Florida State Attorney’s Office for the 12th Judicial Circuit.
The incident dates back to October 12, 2021, when Koontz and Timothy Hendricks became embroiled in what prosecutors describe as "an apparent road rage altercation" while driving in West Bradenton. According to the prosecution, the altercation escalated when Andricks allegedly threw a McDonald's cup containing ice and soda at Koontz's vehicle.
Koontz claimed that Andricks cut him off while he was on his way home from work, leading to a confrontation at an intersection. Allegedly, Andricks aggressively gestured at Koontz and hurled the cup at his car, which struck Koontz in the temple and spilled soda inside his vehicle.
The confrontation escalated further as both men stopped on a residential street, leading to Koontz fatally shooting Andricks 11 times after they exited their vehicles.
During the trial, Koontz argued that he acted in self-defense, fearing for his life after Andricks allegedly threatened him and exited his vehicle to confront him.

"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 said.
Koontz said the cup, which was full of Coca-Cola and ice, struck him in his temple and spilled soda all over his car.
However, prosecutors challenged Koontz's account, questioning the necessity of using lethal force in response to a non-lethal assault with a paper cup. They emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest Andricks was armed.
Key evidence presented during the trial included footage from a neighbor's doorbell camera, showing the events leading up to the shooting. Prosecutors highlighted the sequence of events captured in the footage, suggesting that Koontz pursued Andricks out of anger rather than self-defennse.

But prosecutors dissected the footage multiple times throughout the trial, pointing to the fact that Andricks' hands "were swinging" as he walked toward Koontz and were clearly visible.
"Is it reasonable to shoot somebody who has no weapon?" Assistant State Attorney Rebecca Freel said during closing arguments. "There was no basis to believe that Mr. Andricks had a gun."

Despite Koontz's claims of self-defense, prosecutors maintained that his actions were unjustified and fueled by road rage. Assistant State Attorney Suzanne O'Donnell argued that Koontz exacerbated the situation, ultimately resulting in Andricks' death.

"This defendant created this situation. He (Koontz) escalated this situation. He made it worse and then complained when it went foul," said O'Donnell. "And now he wants to object now that he's escalated the situation up here and say it's all self-defense."

Koontz now faces a potential maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. A sentencing date has yet to be determined by the state attorney’s office.
In her closing argument, Assistant State Attorney Rebecca Freel emphasized that while Andricks' actions might have been provocative, they did not warrant a lethal response.
"Mr. Andricks probably shouldn't have chucked that Coke, but he shouldn't have died for it," Freel stated.
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