Road rage suspect will appear in court for days after fatal shooting in Riverview on US 301

Suspect of fatal road rage appears in court

FOX 13’s Kylie Jones reports this.

RIVERVIEW, Fla. – The man is being prosecuted in connection with a fatal shooting on the road on US 301 in Riverview appeared in court Tuesday afternoon.

Kentavious Gholston, 26, was arrested Monday afternoon and faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said Steven Powers, 61, was shot and killed in the incident that occurred Sunday afternoon on US 301 near Bloomingdale Avenue.

Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister said Powers and his adult grandson were driving in their work van on US 301 toward Bloomingdale Avenue around 2:15 p.m. Chronister said a black Mazda driven by Gholston allegedly cut them off.

He said Powers honked his horn, and Gholston responded.

“He decides to check on our murder victim,” Chronister said.

The sheriff said Gholston parked his car in the middle of the road, and then Powers got out of his van.

“He’s approaching the car,” Chronister said. “As our murder suspect steps out of the driver’s side of that car, our older gentleman throws a punch and misses. He redirects him and pushes him to the ground. At that moment the threat is over.’

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However, investigators said Gholston then pulled out a gun and shot Powers three times.

“He’s already defenseless,” Chronister said. ‘He falls all the way to the ground. Our homicide suspect, seeing that he is still alive, says, “I have to finish the job.” He goes and fires two more rounds.”

Investigators said Powers was hit by a total of four shots. The sheriff said Powers’ adult grandson got out of the van and Gholston then pointed the gun at the grandson before getting back in his car and driving away.

Chronister said a bank card dropped on the ground during the incident and cellphone video from witnesses helped identify Gholston.

“There’s even a dashcam video we received that shows our murder suspect fleeing a red light, where we get a good look at the tag,” Chronister said.

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Security cameras from a school across the street also captured the incident. Investigators said Gholston dumped his car at an apartment complex and took the tag off.

“He also disassembles the firearm and disposes of it in a retention lake, a pond area where the car was parked,” Chronister said.

On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said the dive team was still searching for the weapon. HCSO said Gholston turned himself in Monday afternoon.

Powers’ longtime girlfriend is heartbroken over his loss.

“He was a good man,” Vivian “Vicki” Mayer said. “He was an honest man. He was a hardworking man. And he was a loving man.”

She said he was a fixer and always wanted to help people. Mayer hopes he will be remembered for what he has done for others.

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“He was always there for anyone who needed him,” Mayer said. ‘All day and night. He was there, asked no questions, wanted nothing in return.”

On Tuesday, a judge ordered Gholston held in court pending a pretrial detention hearing set for next week.

“He is clearly a danger to the community because he cannot control his temper,” Hillsborough State’s Attorney Suzy Lopez said.

Lopez said Gholston is on probation and is not allowed to have a gun.

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