A Florida man who allegedly pulled a gun and pointed it at another shopper who told him to put on a mask while he was in the store is facing felony charges.
Vincent Scavetta, 28, surrendered to Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies on Wednesday and was charged this week with aggravated assault with a firearm and improper exhibition of a firearm. Bail was set at $15,000.
According to an arrest report, Scavetta was at a Walmart on July 12 when got into an argument with Chris Estrada, another shopper at the Walmart Royal Palm Beach store who told Scavetta to put on a mask because of the coronavirus pandemic. The incident began after Estrada's young daughter nearly walked into Scavetta and his father and Estrada told Scavetta he should wear a mask. In response, Scavetta cursed at him, and Estrada told Scavetta to not use that language in front of his daughter.
Scavetta later told investigators that he had been wearing a mask while pushing his father in a wheelchair through the parking lot, but it had gotten wet in the rain. Scavetta said the wet mask made it difficult to breathe and fogged his glasses so he took it off, the report said.
Video of the incident shows the two men standing about 10-feet away from one another and yelling. The argument escalated as Scavetta flipped Estrada off and Estrada advanced on Scavetta pointing his umbrella. Other shoppers attempted to intervene in the fight, prompting Scavetta to walk away. Estrada said something to Scavetta, who then pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at Estrada, investigators said. Estrada's daughter can be seen grabbing her father's hand and trying to pull him away.
Scavetta, who has a concealed weapons permit, told investigators that Estrada had threatened him and his father and had hit him in the forehead using the tip of the umbrella. Scavetta said he pulled his .40-caliber handgun on Estrada because he was afraid for his life.
According to the report, Estrada said he would not press charges if Scavetta gave up his concealed weapons permit. However, Scavetta declined the deal and prosecutors decided to file charges.
Photo: Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department