Background: The intersection of Salem Church Road and Old Baltimore Pike in Newark, Delaware (Google Maps). Inset: William Simpler Jr. (Delaware State Police).
A motorcyclist in Delaware was shot by the passenger of another car in a road rage incident, authorities say, with witnesses apparently not realizing what was happening until it was too late.
William Simpler Jr., 28, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 46-year-old Jason Paoletti, Delaware State Police announced. The defendant has also been charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
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On Tuesday at about 1:30 p.m., Paoletti was riding his motorcycle in Newark, Delaware. The small city is located about 45 miles southwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Paoletti pulled up to a red light at the intersection of Salem Church Road and Old Baltimore Pike, behind a Hyundai Elantra. He moved in front of the Hyundai, which then drove up to Paoletti’s left.
The motorcyclist and the individuals in the Hyundai began arguing, Delaware State Police said. The source of their disagreement is unclear, but the law enforcement agency referred to the incident as “road rage.”
At some point, Paoletti “stepped off his motorcycle and began to reach into a saddlebag” when the front-seat passenger of the Hyundai — alleged to be Simpler — shot him, authorities said.
People nearby said that at first, they didn’t realize what had happened.
“We just thought he was having a medical emergency,” one witness told regional ABC affiliate WPVI of Paoletti. “We tried calling 911, but the line was busy.”
Paoletti apparently told bystanders, “I’ve been shot in the back.”
Witnesses rushed to help him and realized he had multiple gunshot wounds. State troopers were called about a shooting, and when they arrived, they found Paoletti “lying in the roadway.”
He was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
After investigators identified Simpler as their suspect, they went to his home and detained him. He was booked into the Delaware Department of Correction on a $1.5 million cash bond.
The investigation was ongoing as of Wednesday.
A vigil was held for Paoletti that day, with his family asking attendees to bring their vehicles as a tribute to the victim. According to WPVI, he was a local repair shop owner who was returning to his shop after lunch when he was killed.
Dawn Paoletti, the victim’s sister, said she could not believe her brother would engage in road rage.
“My brother didn’t have road rage. My brother is not violent. My brother is a lover,” she said. “He was my best friend. He was my role model. I looked up to him growing up.”
The post Man heading back to work from lunch bleeds out in front of witnesses after argument with Hyundai at red light turns deadly, cops say first appeared on Law & Crime.
