Man Indicted for First-Degree Murder in Road Rage Shooting

A New Jersey police officer has been indicted on first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of a motorist on Route 3 in June. 

A grand jury handed down the indictment last week, claiming that Joseph Walker, 40, intended to kill Joseph Harvey following an apparent road rage incident. 

The Capital reported the initial investigation showed that Harvey became angry after Walker cut him off in traffic near the intersection of Route 3 and Route 175. Harvey reportedly approached Walker's car, and at some point, Walker fired a gun. Harvey, suffering from three gunshot wounds, died later at a local hospital. 

A defense attorney for Walker told The Capital that his client acted in self-defense. Walker's wife and three children were in the car at the time of the shooting; the family was returning home from a birthday party. 

Walker is currently out on bond. If convicted of first-degree murder, he could face life in prison.