More Details Emerge From Alleged Road Rage Murder
HOWELL (WWJ) - More details surrounding the case of an alleged road rage incident that left a man dead are emerging.
Derek Fleming, 43, of Argentine Township, was driving with his wife in the car on their way to pick up their children from school when a case of road rage came to a head at the intersection of Grand River and Chilson Road in Genoa Township, near Howell.
Attorney William Moore, who is representing the victim's family, explained how Fleming's wife Amy recounted the moments that led up to her husband's shooting death Tuesday night.
"The vehicle slammed on its brakes, slid out onto the road and they went around it. That is the same vehicle that contained the driver that shot Mr. Fleming. The vehicle pulled in behind them — followed them up the next corner, National Street," said Moore.
After that, Moore said, Fleming got out of his car and confronted the 69-year old driver and said, "Do you have a problem?"
The man then shot and killed Fleming, according to Moore.
WWJ obtained a recording of a call to 911 operator Tuesday afternoon that went as follows:
"Hi, I'm on Grand River ... and someone just got shot," said the caller.
"Someone got what?" asked the operator.
"Shot, like someone shot someone with a gun — out the driver's window and the guy is laying on the ground."
Another call to 911:
"Are you calling about the incident right on Chilson?" asked the emergency operator.
"Yeah, shots fired," said the caller.
"He shot him?" asked the operator.
"Yeah, shots fired," repeated the caller.
"Did you witness it, sir?" asked the operator.
"No, I just heard the gunshots from behind and we heard the gunshot and came running; he's lying in the middle of Grand River right now," said the caller.
Talking to reporters the day before, Livingston County Undersheriff Mike Murphy described how authorities believe the killing happened about 3:35 p.m. Tuesday.
"The driver of the black pickup truck, which was the 69-year-old Howell man, was at one time behind the 2014 Ford Escape, driven by the 43-year-old, so obviously there was at least one pass involved preliminary," said Murphy. "Ultimately when they came to the traffic light, the Dodge pickup truck was in front of the Ford Escape."
Police said it was not immediately known what provoked the shooting ... or how many shots were fired. Prosecutors in Livingston County said they were waiting for a police report before moving forward in the case.