NEWARK, DE - A man on a motorcycle was shot by the passenger of another car in an apparent road rage incident, according to authorities.
The suspect, 28-year-old William Simpler Jr., has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 46-year-old Jason Paoletti, a press release from the Delaware State Police (DSP) confirmed. Simpler has also been charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The incident unfolded around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, when Paoletti was riding his motorcycle, Law & Crime reported. He 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.
Paoletti and the individuals in the Hyundai began arguing, according to DSP. The source of the disagreement is unclear, but DSP 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. Witnesses nearby said at first, they didn't realize what was happening. "We just thought he was having a medical emergency," one witness said. "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 a nearby 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 Corrections on a $1.5 million cash bond.
A vigil was held for Paoletti with his family asking attendees to bring their vehicles as a tribute. Paoletti was a local repair shop owner who was returning to his shop after lunch when he was killed. Paoletti's sister, Dawn, 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."
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