New Jersey Official Charged in Road Rage Shooting Death of Baltimore County Man on I-97

A sworn officer with the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office in New Jersey has been charged in the road rage shooting death of a Baltimore County man on Interstate 97 at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, according to Maryland State Police.

Police charged Joseph Walker, 40, of East Ampton, NJ, in the death of Joseph Harvey Jr., 36, of Smith Avenue in Halethorpe, in an incident on the Route 3 ramp to I-97. Walker was described by police as a sworn officer with the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office in New Jersey.

Walker is accused of shooting Harvey after Harvey and a passenger approached Walker’s gold Kia Minivan when both vehicles stopped on the shoulder of the road, police said in a statement.

As the men approached, Walker got out of the car, said he was a police officer, then fired a shot that struck Harvey, according to a news release.

"The shooting resulted from a reported road rage incident that had occurred between the drivers of the two vehicles," police said in the release.

Police responded to the scene and Harvey was taken to Baltimore Washington Medical Center, where he died. A passenger in the green Honda Accord was uninjured, according to police.

Walker was also taken to the hospital, complaining of chest pains. He was in police custody on charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter. He was being held on a $1 million bond.

Members of the Homicide Unit are interviewing motorists who may have witnessed Harvey and Walker’s driving before the shooting. Police ask anyone with information to call (410) 761-5130.

This article was updated at 12:55 p.m. June 8 to include charges filed and to include Harvey's Halethorpe residence.