Motorcyclist killed in alleged road rage shooting in Newark, Delaware; suspect arrested

NEWARK, Del. (WPVI) -- A Delaware man has been arrested and charged with murder following an alleged road rage shooting on Tuesday afternoon.

The suspect was identified as 28-year-old William Simpler Jr. of Saint Georges.

It happened around 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of Salem Church Road and Old Baltimore Pike in Newark.

According to state police, 46-year-old Jason Paoletti, of Bear, was traveling behind a Hyundai on a motorcycle when he stopped at the red light.

Police say Paoletti pulled his motorcycle in front of the Hyundai, and then the driver of the Hyundai moved alongside Paoletti.

There was an argument between Paoletti and the occupants of the Hyundai, and investigators say that's when Paoletti got off his motorcycle and began to reach into a saddlebag.

According to police, that's when Simpler, who was riding in the front passenger seat of the Hyundai, shot Paoletti.

Detectives were able to identify Simpler as the gunman, police say, and he was taken into custody at his home without incident.

Simpler is being held on a $1.5 million cash bond.