Key Takeaways
- A road rage incident in Charleston ended fatally when a driver confronted another man after trying to avoid conflict.
- William Ray Hinerman, 63, drove aggressively before getting into an altercation where he attacked the other driver.
- The other driver shot Hinerman in self-defense after being physically assaulted.
- The shooter called 911 immediately and cooperated with police, which are positive actions after a defensive shooting.
- No charges have been filed yet, and the investigation is ongoing to determine if the shooting was justified.
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CHARLESTON, W.VA. — A late-night road rage encounter on Greenbrier Street turned deadly Monday, May 18, when a driver who had pulled over to avoid a confrontation shot the man police say came back and attacked him.
As reported by 13 WOWK, the Charleston Police Department received a call at 10:45 p.m. about a shooting near the intersection of Greenbrier Street and Deitrick Boulevard.
According to the department’s preliminary investigation, William Ray Hinerman, 63, of Charleston, was driving aggressively before the incident. Investigators believe the driver of a second vehicle pulled over to the side of the road specifically to avoid a confrontation with him.
That should have been the end of it. Police say it wasn’t.
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Based on statements and evidence gathered at the scene, investigators allege Hinerman made a U-turn, drove back to where the other driver had stopped, got out of his vehicle, and approached him. During the confrontation that followed, Hinerman allegedly struck the other driver multiple times.
The second driver then drew a gun and fired one round, striking Hinerman in the abdomen. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
After the shooting, the driver immediately called 911, stayed at the scene, and cooperated fully with investigators. Those are exactly the right steps after any defensive shooting, and they matter. They put the driver’s account on the record from the first minutes and gave investigators a cooperative witness instead of a fleeing suspect.
WV MetroNews reports the driver has not been charged. Once the investigation is complete, the evidence will be presented to the prosecuting attorney, who will determine whether any charges should be filed.
To be clear, no authority has ruled on whether this shooting was justified, and the investigation remains active and ongoing. But the account police have released so far describes a driver who tried to disengage, was followed, and was physically attacked before he fired. Deadly force is never about defending your pride in a traffic dispute. It is a last resort against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm, and under the facts police describe, that is the question the prosecuting attorney will be weighing.
