Husband of Pa. mother killed in road rage shooting explains moments before gunfire
LUMBERTON, N.C. (WPVI) -- The husband of a Pennsylvania woman is speaking out after his wife was gunned down during a road rage shooting in North Carolina last week.
"In three minutes my whole world turned upside down and I don't know why," Ryan Eberly told WGAL.
Ryan's wife, Julie, of Mannheim, Pennsylvania, was a mother of six.
"There's a lot of numbness," Ryan said. "There's a lot of raw emotion. She just loved being around her family and friends and sharing our blessings."
Deputies were called out near the 23-mile marker along I-95 South just before noon last Thursday. Upon arrival, authorities found the 47-year-old mother had been shot through the passenger door.
SEE ALSO: Pennsylvania mother of 6 killed during North Carolina road rage shooting: Police
Her husband said they were headed to the beach to celebrate their anniversary.
"I changed lanes and a car was coming behind me," Ryan said. "I didn't see that he was going around me and I pushed him into the shoulder mistakenly. As soon as I was able, I gave him room to get back on the highway. No car contact, no nothing. I saw in my mirror that he was passing us to the right and gunshots were fired, our car was hit. My wife yelled my name. I asked if she was hit and she said, 'Yes.'"
Julie was taken to an area hospital where she later died. Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said the six children were at home with their grandparents.
The sheriff's office announced Monday that investigators had identified the shooter's vehicle from surveillance footage.
The vehicle is a silver, four-door Chevrolet Malibu that was manufactured between the years of 2008-2013 with North Carolina license plates. The car has tinted windows and chrome trimming around the window frame.
Anyone who lives in the areas of Elm Street and Roberts Avenue was asked to review their surveillance system for the car. Investigators are seeking footage during the time frame of 11:40 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on March 25.
The sheriff's office last week announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest for the person responsible. On Tuesday, Wilkins announced the reward had been increased to $20,000.
"We are going to aggressively track down the driver of this vehicle," he said. "Detectives have worked non stop 24/7 to identify this coward. If you know who it is and who owns this car, come forward NOW. Do not become part of a conspiracy and call us NOW."
The Pennsylvania family received an outpouring of donations after the shooting.
A GoFundMe set up by the family has raised more than $55,000.
