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'I just don’t understand': Family baffled after young father killed in apparent road rage shooting

Investigators say the shooter acted in self-defense, but the family of the man shot and killed say something doesn't add up.

ZOLFO SPRINGS, Fla — Coty Barnett says she worries most about how she’ll explain to her three young children that their father isn’t coming home.

Relatives identify Zachary Barnett as the man killed in an apparent road rage encounter Saturday afternoon in Manatee County.

RELATED: Sheriff's office: Deadly road rage shooting is justifiable

“His babies were everything to him,” said Coty Barnett, referring to the three children she and Zac shared, ages four, two and eight months.

Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells says the shooter has not been arrested because he was standing his ground. Investigators have not yet identified the man.

“I just don’t understand,” Coty Barnett said. “I just want to know what happened, what really happened.”

Deputies say the shooter saw Barnett driving erratically around 5:20 p.m. Saturday on Buckeye Road near U.S. 301 near Parrish. He turned around and followed, attempting to get Barnett's license plate number.

Barnett then pulled over, and the shooter pulled up next to him, law enforcement said. That's when Barnett got out of his vehicle and started an argument, leaning into the shooter's window, deputies believe.

The shooter then pulled out a gun and told Barnett to get away from his vehicle, according to Wells. Barnett then pulled out his own gun and aimed it at the shooter.

Wells said that's when the man shot and killed Barnett.

“Why didn’t he leave, according to him, he was in the car and Zac was standing there,” Coty Barnett said. "I want him to look at me and tell me why he just didn't drive away."

Investigators say there were no witnesses and that the shooter called 911 right away.

Barnett says she’s asking anyone who might know something to come forward. She hopes there might be cameras in the area or someone might’ve driven by right after the shooting.

“He wasn’t just some road rage idiot,” Barnett said of Zac. “He wasn’t that person, he wasn’t violent, he wasn’t an aggressor like that.”

The family has set up a GoFundMe account.

In the interest of full disclosure, records show Zachary Barnett has arrests for driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license, but that was roughly 10 years ago.

The sheriff's office says it could be weeks before the case is sent to the state attorney's office to determine if any charges will be filed.

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