Man Guilty For Alexandria Road Rage Shooting

A jury has found a man guilty of unlawful wounding in the July 2017 road rage shooting on the Eisenhower Connector in Alexandria. The jury recommended a four-year sentence for Ernest Stickell, 59, of Mechanicsville, Maryland, for shooting the other driver and attempting to shoot the passenger.

On July 19, 2017, Stickell and two people in the other car got out to confront each other over a road rage dispute. Evidence shows Stickell shot driver Dejonte Holt in neck, shoulder, and back with a semi-automatic handgun and tried to shoot passenger Ricardo Jennings. He was found not guilty of attempting to shoot Jennings.

Witnesses to the incident said Stickell fired six to 10 rounds at Holt and Jennings, who were unarmed. He continued to shoot at Holt even as she fled to her car. Stickell later claimed he fired the shots in self defense.

Three other drivers followed Stickell and got his license plate number as he tried to drive away. Hours later, he turned himself in to Maryland State Police in Frederick, Maryland. Stickell told authorities he threw out the handgun over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The gun has not yet been recovered.

“I exhort all citizens to refrain from allowing road rage incidents to devolve into violence," said Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter in a statement following the jury's verdict. "If you feel that another person is recklessly driving, the correct course of action is to note the license plate and inform the police."

Stickell's sentencing is scheduled for April 12. He is being held at the Alexandria Detention Center.

Image via City of Alexandria