By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey State Police officials are continuing to investigate a violent road rage shooting that left a truck driver critically wounded on the New Jersey Turnpike earlier this week.
According to a statement released by NJ State Police, a Florida man, Eiver Espinosa Rodriguez, 32, of Homestead, has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, possession of fraudulent government documents, and hindering apprehension.
Rodriguez is currently being held in Virginia and is awaiting extradition back to New Jersey.
The incident occurred around 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, June 20, in the southbound outer roadway near milepost 86 in Edison Township, Middlesex County.
Preliminary findings indicate that a box truck driver was traveling south on the Turnpike when he was shot in the abdomen by the driver of a tractor-trailer.
Investigators say at least one round was fired through the front door of the victim’s truck before the suspect fled the scene.
With assistance from Virginia State Police, investigators were able to track the suspect vehicle to Interstate 295 in Petersburg, Virginia, where Rodriguez was taken into custody.
The victim remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
State Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or events leading up to or following it, to contact the Troop “D” Cranbury Station Detective Bureau at (609) 860-9000 ext. 4423.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.