A truck driver lost his life over the weekend during a road rage shooting incident that happened on the shoulder of a Tennessee interstate.
The incident happened on southbound I-65 near mile marker 77 in Nashville during the evening rush hour.
Nashville police say that the incident began when 28 year old motorist Eric Nichols attempted to merge onto I-65. During the merge attempt, Nichols and 53 year old semi truck driver Christopher Jankowski got angry with each other and both men eventually pulled off on the shoulder of the interstate, exited their vehicles, and began yelling at one another.
Police say that the yelling escalated into a physical fight, which then took a deadly turn. “Nichols said during the fight, his pistol fell from his waistband. He said both of them went for the gun, and that he ultimately shot Jankowski one time as the fight continued,” Nashville police said in a news release.
Jankowski died as a result of the shooting.
So far, no charges have been filed against Nichols, who claims that he shot Jankowski in self defense.
Jankowski’s family believes that charges should be brought up against Nichols. They say that their father was a veteran truck driver who knew how to deal with heavy traffic and that they don’t believe Nichols’ self-defense story. Daughter Ashlee Jankowski told Fox 17 that “[Nichols] got out of that car with a gun, he knew what he was going to do.”
Jankowski leaves behind twelve grandchildren.
Police say that the investigation is ongoing. If you witnessed the incident, you’re asked to contact the Midtown Hills Precinct investigation department at 615-880-1511.