TAMPA, FL — A driver trying to help a man on the side of the road was shot at multiple times early Tuesday in Hillsborough County, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said the man behind the wheel had been heading east on Main Street when a person walking nearby used a flashlight to flag him down.

Instead of driving past, the motorist pulled over to see if someone needed assistance. Investigators say that choice quickly turned dangerous when the pedestrian fired several rounds and struck the vehicle five times. The driver managed to escape the area and make it to a nearby gas station, where he called law enforcement.

Deputies say the shooting happened near Main Street and Grovewood Avenue

Hillsborough County deputies were called to the area near Main Street and Grovewood Avenue just before 1 a.m. Tuesday after a shooting was reported. The early-morning timing likely made the scene even more unsettling for anyone traveling through the area.

According to the sheriff’s office, the sequence began when the driver saw a man walking along the road and stopped because he appeared to need help. Deputies say the pedestrian then opened fire, sending multiple bullets into the vehicle. The car was hit five times, but the driver was able to get away without being trapped at the roadside.

Investigators identified Franklin Windham as the suspect

Detectives later identified the suspect as 32-year-old Franklin Windham, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators then obtained a search warrant for his home as they worked to piece together what happened during the roadside encounter.

Inside the residence, deputies said they found a gun that matched the caliber used in the attack. That discovery became an important part of the case as investigators moved from the scene to the suspect’s home. Windham was taken into custody after the search, authorities said.

Charges include attempted second-degree murder and shooting into a vehicle

Windham faces a string of felony charges tied to the shooting. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said those charges include attempted second-degree murder, shooting into a vehicle, discharging a firearm in public, criminal mischief over $1,000, possessing a firearm during a felony and aggravated battery.

Sheriff Chad Chronister said the driver had simply tried to step in and help someone who appeared to be in need. In his remarks, Chronister said the man’s kindness was met with violence. The sheriff also said the suspect will face consequences for the attack.

The driver escaped and called for help from a nearby gas station

Even after being fired on, the driver kept control of the situation long enough to leave the area and reach a gas station. From there, he contacted law enforcement and reported what had happened. Deputies say that quick response helped get the investigation moving.

Authorities have not released the driver’s identity, and they have not said what prompted the sudden attack. Those unanswered questions remain part of the case as detectives continue to work through the details of the encounter. For now, officials are focusing on the fact that the driver survived and was able to get help.

A split-second act of help turned into a violent felony case

The sheriff’s office said the case began as an ordinary moment of concern: a passing driver noticing someone on the roadside and stopping to help. That ordinary act of courtesy is what makes the episode stand out, even amid the fast-moving police response and arrest.

In the end, deputies say the driver escaped serious harm despite multiple shots being fired at his vehicle. The case now centers on the arrest of Windham and the evidence investigators say they recovered from his home. Hillsborough County officials have not disclosed any motive, leaving the reason for the attack unknown.

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