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Credit: Inside the MagicThe Disney World bubble creates a universe of imagination and wonder, but on occasion, that bubble is broken, and the brutal reality of the real world comes through. One family on vacation discovered just how dangerous the world outside the Disney bubble can be.
On Tuesday afternoon, a family traveled from the Fort Wilderness Lodge to the Orlando Convention Center. They were traveling along International Drive near State Road 528 when a nearly tragic incident occurred.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, 33-year-old Stevon DeSouza was driving in front of the family when traffic slowed. DeSouza said that he slowed when the lane “was not clear.” When DeSouza’s car slowed, the family driving behind him, with a husband, wife, and a child, hit its horn.
The family was able to pass DeSouza in another lane, and when they drove past him, he allegedly pointed a black, Glock-style handgun at the family. The father told authorities that there was “no doubt in my mind” that DeSouza was going to shoot the family.
DeSouza told the Orange County Sheriff’s deputy that he had shown his firearm to the family, but he denied that he pointed it at anyone. After the incident, DeSouza pulled into the parking lot of a Red Lobster on International Drive, which is where authorities found and arrested him.
On Wednesday, DeSouza was before a judge who ordered him to surrender any firearms and not to have any contact with the victims. He was released on a $5,000 bail.
DeSouza is facing aggravated assault with a firearm charges, which carry a maximum of five years in prison, five years of probation, and a $5,000 fine. Speaking to ClickOrlando, the family confirmed they were on vacation in Central Florida.
This incident shows that road rage can happen anywhere, even when you’re on vacation at Disney World, and even at the “Most Magical Place on Earth,” the world’s reality can find you.
What’s the worst thing that ever happened to you while on vacation at Disney World? Let us know in the comments.