Lawyer: Md. Man Threatened Family Of NJ Officer Charged In Road Rage Murder
GAMBRILLS, Md. (WJZ)—A New Jersey detective faces murder and manslaughter charges after Maryland State Police say he gunned down a man during a road rage incident.
Rochelle Ritchie reports the detective's lawyer says the victim threatened his client's family.
Fiends of the victim say the shooting was uncalled for.
The 36-year-old victim from Millersville died Saturday night. The suspect, a cop, now sits in the Anne Arundel County detention center on a $1 million bond.
Brian Jones of Glen Burnie was overcome with emotion as he remembers his friend, 36-year-old Joseph Harvey.
"If you looked for a friend or someone to help you at all, he'd always be there for you," Jones said.
Maryland State Police say Harvey was shot and killed by Detective Joseph Walker with the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office in New Jersey during a road rage incident on Route 3.
"Certainly it appears this is behavior gone bad," said Elena Russo.
Around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Harvey's passengers tell police the drivers were in the left turning lanes when Harvey was cut off by Walker. The witness says both began intentionally swerving at each other before pulling off to the side of the road.
What happened next has Harvey's closest friends in shock.
"The driver of the Honda started approaching Walker, who got out of his car and brandished a firearm," said Russo.
Police say Walker fired several shots, killing Harvey. Walker's three kids and wife in the van looked on in horror.
"He can say all he wants to [about how] he was worried about his own wife and children. Well, if he was worried about his wife and children, he shouldn't have pulled off the road," said Jenny Jones.
Walker is now charged with second degree murder and manslaughter. His neighbors call him a family man, not a murderer.
"He doesn't seem like that kind of guy at all. Really family-oriented. I was just talking to him when he was mowing his lawn," said one woman.
Friends say Harvey was not a violent person and are in disbelief a drive down the highway could turn into a fatal confrontation.
"There's no reason for this to have happened, for him to be dead," said David Halley.
Police say Walker was driving back to New Jersey from Maryland.
