Steven Walker, 38, was doing what thousands of people do every day in Palm Coast as they shop: he was trying to pull into a parking row at Home Depot.
Just then, Trevor Mullennix, 37, of Lee Drive in Palm Coast, who was driving his Chevrolet Express cargo van with an open top trailer full of construction equipment, allegedly failed to stop at the stop sign, and pulled in front of Walker’s Toyota Tacoma pickup.
It’s not an uncommon aggravation, and Walker reacted as drivers often do in those situations: he raised both his arms in the air, the universal gesture that means “what are you doing?,” rolled down his window and told Mullennix to “move.”
A minor aggravation turned to confrontation. According to a Flagler County Sheriff’s report, Mullennix, began to yell at Walker, who was nevertheless able to drive around Mullennix’s truck.
But Mullennix, according to the report, “positioned himself in a shooting stance position, fired one shot from the driver’s seat of the van with what [Walker] described as a ‘black handgun.'” Walker only heard a shot. He did not see the muzzle flash. But he told deputies that he believed the handgun to be authentic due to his military training and experience. (Under Florida law, the use of a gun in a crime is treated as a weapon whether the object turns out to be a toy gun, a pellet gun or the like.)
As Mullennix drove away toward nearby Boulder Rock Drive, Walker followed at a distance, trying to get Mullennix’s tag number. But then Mullennix got out of his truck and ran toward Walker’s vehicle. Walker put his truck in reverse and tried to get away. A deputy sheriff was near the scene and saw “a white male wearing a light colored shirt run from the direction of the white van directly towards the vehicle that was behind him,” the report states. “The truck drove in reverse as the male aggressively ran towards the moving vehicle. The pick-up continued in reverse, obviously attempting to get away from the male charging at them.”
Eventually Mullennix drove off and Walker stayed at the scene, awaiting law enforcement. As deputies investigated, another deputy on State Road 100 saw what appeared to be Mullennix’s cargo van pull into the McDonald’s there. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and ordered Mullennix out of the vehicle and onto the ground. Mullennix protested that he hadn’t done anything, and that “it was just a pepper spray gun.”
He was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car.
Mullennix had a passenger with him, Lance Redding, 34, of Palm Coast. A deputy asked Redding about the incident. Redding–who described Mullennix as a Marine–told the deputy that he was mad at Mullennix for pointing the gun at the other vehicle, only for Mullennix to tell him that it was ok, since it was only a pepper spray gun. But Redding corroborated the incident as it had unfolded in front of a deputy at Home Depot, and as Walker described it.
A deputy brought Walker to the McDonald’s, where Walker positively identified Mullennix as the alleged assailant. The deputy who’d witnessed part of the incident also identified him–not by his face, but by his clothes.
The handgun “was located in plain view on the driver’s side floorboard,” the report states, and “was later identified as a firearm that fires pepper and rubber ball projectiles.” Mullennix’s vehicle’s tag number, the sheriff’s report adds, does not match the vehicle.
Mullennix was charged with aggravated assault, a felony, and booked at the Flagler County jail just after noon on Dec. 8. He was released the following day. The jail’s website indicates no bond amount. His pretrial supervision order indicates he must surrender all firearms to the sheriff’s office within 48 hours.
palmcoaster says
Why was this man released next day and without bond..? Even a pellet gun can inflict serious injuries and since when we get away with one night in jail only, after shooting in public at people even if a pellet gun? I guest only in Flagler County FL? Bullies given green light to threat and intimidate us all? Where is justice?
PCer says
He’s lucky it did not end with his victim pulling a real gun on him and firing real bullets – it would have been well within their rights.
Anonymous says
HMM HIS VEHICLE AND TAG DONT MATCH??
Sw says
All over a parking space. Genius….
palmcoaster says
Is supposed to be the Holiday’s with Jolly Frantic Traffic and fewer parking spaces available, so please lets try to be cordial and patient..? Greetings!
Palmcoast2ndamend says
I agree with the above comment.
Lucky for the man with a short temper, the victim didn’t have a real gun and fire in self defense.
He would have been within his right and it would have been a tragic end.
I
Kim says
But guns keep us safe!
Gkimp says
You could put somebody’s eye out with that thing!!
THE VOICE OF REASON says
palmcoaster: “It could get stuck under the skin and cause a really bad infection.”
Ray D says
Palm Coast is the only place that I have ever seen people get out of their vehicles at a stop sign and beat on each other over who goes first. Then again, I had someone in a tree trimming vehicle stop while I was riding my bike and tell me he was going to kill me for riding my bike on MW Parkway one Sunday morning. I never saw the guy before and the cops never did find him. Lots is stress in Palm Coast, a lot of transient people. Be careful out there.
Retiredlawenforcement says
Thank god the counter person at McDonalds didn’t get his order wrong, who knows what this TIME BOMB would of did.
Outsider says
That’s right Kim, but it’s people who endanger us.
Komodo Dragon says
Yeah, lots of hmm’s in this case. Released on his own recognizance, no registration with incorrect license plate, no insurance and almost sure that drivers license could be suspended as well. Okay, this incident was also observed by a deputy as it was in progress. Does a deputy need to see the whole altercation to address it? Seems like favoritism here and are known to each other. Breaks for traffic violations is okay but not when combined with a crime. Is he a felon and/or on drugs and/or alcohol?? Getting away with too much here while the victim will be shaken up for some time.
brian says
you do the crime, you do the time..no breaks for anyone is the only way our society can regain control of itself..PERIOD..
Geezer says
Watch out folks.. These nutters are a-dime-a-dozen.
Many is the time that I’ve seen “The Parking Game” in action.
Twas the time that you didn’t cut people off in a parking lot to
grab a spot, because the “winner” was often the loser when he
discovered his slashed tires and keyed-up doors.
I leave people like this a note under the windshield wiper:
“Check your car before leaving–you may not be able to stop.”
(I’d never vandalize a car, especially with all the cameras around)
Oh, it’s illegal too….
Since they like head games, why not…
It’s priceless to watch the “winner” panic from a distance.
LawAbidingCitizen says
@ Ray D
I’m sure Palm Coast is not the ONLY place this has ever happened. c’mon bud, be realistic
Ray D says
Law Abiding, I am 64 and it is literally the only place that I have seen that behavior.
MannyHM says
Mr. Trevor Mullinnex should give a talk to schools about the consequences of carrying a toy gun and allowing his anger to rule his actions. Lot of people think that pulling out a gun, real or not is an immediate answer to a problem. Wrong.
r&r says
Is there a story in the 4 workers at Home Depot that were fired for turning in a thief.
FlaglerLive says
The News-Journal did a good job reporting that story here.