Man accused of firing at ex-girlfriend

Police say a Wauchula man followed his ex-girlfriend down the streets of Avon Park and opened fire on her vehicle.

Travis John Downey, 30, was arrested Thursday on warrants charging him with attempted second-degree murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle and possession of a weapon or ammo by a convicted Florida felon.

He remained in the Highlands County Jail Friday under a $200,000 bond.

The woman told authorities that while driving to her house on East Walnut Street Tuesday night a Ford Explorer pulled up beside her as both vehicle were eastbound on West Main Street, according to the arrest report.

Downey was hanging out the front window of his vehicle and signaled and yelled for her to pull over.

"(The woman) advised that Downey was her boyfriend at one time, but she hasn't seen him in over six months," Avon Park Police Officer Ben Pollard wrote in the arrest report. "(She) advised that she continued driving and ignored Downey."

Downey reportedly would not be ignored and hit the passenger side of her vehicle with his Explorer. The woman immediately turned left onto North Lake Avenue and, in the process, punctured her rear driver side tire on a curb, according to the report.

The woman told police she again saw Downey hanging out the window of his vehicle, but this time with a large silver handgun.

"(She) advised she heard a loud 'pop' and then heard what she believed was the sound of a bullet striking the rear of her vehicle," the report stated.

The woman turned onto West Pleasant Street, but this time the Explorer continued on North Lake.

Police reportedly found a bullet hole in the vehicle's trunk. The woman was able to positively ID Downey through a photo lineup.