A tragic road rage incident in North Carolina turned deadly over the weekend when a 75-year-old man fatally shot another man in front of his three children. The incident occurred Saturday evening, when Terrell Eugene Giddens allegedly shot 40-year-old Jeffrey Michael Guida with a rifle following a traffic dispute, as reported by The New York Post.
Altercation leads to fatal shooting
According to witnesses, the two men pulled over at the intersection of Island Point Road and North View Harbour Drive in Catawba, North Carolina, after a heated exchange while driving. The confrontation escalated when Giddens reportedly exited his vehicle and shot Guida, killing him instantly. In a further act of aggression, Giddens also fired at Guida’s car, where his three children—aged 13, 11, and 2—were seated.
Children unharmed in the attack
Fortunately, none of the children were physically injured in the incident. The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office confirmed their safety. “It certainly could have been worse if the children were injured or killed,” Captain Aaron Turk told WBTV.
Giddens arrested on multiple charges
Following the shooting, Giddens fled the scene, but deputies used witness accounts and a description of his vehicle to locate him at his home on Island Point Road. He was arrested and now faces charges of murder and three counts of first-degree attempted murder.
When deputies arrived at the scene around 5 p.m., Guida was found deceased, and a small memorial has since been set up by friends and family at the site of the shooting to honor his memory.
Community in shock
The incident has left the local community reeling, with neighbors expressing disbelief over the tragic turn of events. “It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? That something like that could happen right here in my neighborhood,” said Dennis Couch, a resident of the area.
Giddens remains in custody as the investigation into the deadly road rage incident continues.