By Charles Hack/The Jersey Journal
A 40-year-old officer with the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office has been charged with fatally shooting a Maryland man Saturday night during a road rage incident in Anne Arundel County, Maryland State Police said in a statement.
Joseph Walker, 40, of Cambridge Court in Eastampton, NJ, has been charged with second degree murder and manslaughter and is being held on a $1 million bond, Maryland State Police said in a statement.
"We are aware of the fatal shooting incident involving one of our detectives, who was off-duty and traveling in Maryland with his wife and children," Hudson County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Gene Rubino said today in a statement. "All press inquiries regarding this matter are being referred to Maryland law enforcement authorities, who are conducting this investigation."
Rubino said his office was currently gathering information about the incident and did not say what Walker's status is with the department. According to public records, Walker has been an Hudson County employee for at least 17 years and earns around $85,000 a year.
According to the statement by Maryland State Police, Walker allegedly fatally shot Joseph Harvey Jr. 36, of Halethorpe, Md., during an argument at around 8:30 p.m. Saturday after both drivers got out of their cars on the northbound lane of Route 3 at the exit for I-97 near Millersville.
Police believe the incident may have started shortly before 8:30 p.m. one mile south of where the shooting took place.
The preliminary investigation indicates the incident may have ensued after Harvey's green Honda Accord came in contact with a gold Kia minivan driven by Walker northbound Route 3, according to Maryland State Police.
After both vehicles came to rest on the I-97 ramp off of Route 3 northbound, Harvey and his passenger exited the Honda Accord, police said.
Harvey began walking toward Walker's minivan, parked about 100 to 150 feet south of the Honda, police said.
As they approached Walker's minivan, Walker allegedly got out of his vehicle, stated that he was a police officer and shot a .45-caliber glock handgun in the direction of the two men, hitting Harvey, the Washington Post reported based on police statements.
State troopers were called to the scene on the report of a shooting. When they arrived, emergency medical personnel were providing medical treatment to Harvey, police said.
Harvey was taken by ambulance to Baltimore Washington Medical Center complaining of chest pain and succumbed to his injuries, Maryland State Police said.
The passenger traveling with the victim was not injured.
Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit continue to interview motorists who may have witnessed the drivers of both vehicles prior to the shooting.
Walker is being held at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center on a $1 million bond. His bail review hearing is scheduled for tomorrow morning in District Court, a Maryland State Police official said tonight.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Maryland State Police at the Glen Burnie Barrack at (410) 761-5130.
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