Left inset: James Wells (Onslow County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Dylan Rasmussen (GoFundMe). Background: The intersection of Burgaw Highway and Holly Shelter Road in Onslow County, N.C., where James Wells allegedly shot Dylan Rasmussen during a road rage incident (WITN).
A U.S. Marine and father of two, who cherished Sunday afternoon rides on his new motorcycle with dreams of someday sharing such journeys with his sons, tragically lost his life in a North Carolina road rage shooting, as reported by his family and authorities.
Ryne Snooks, the proprietor of Ready to Ride motorcycle shop, shared with local NBC station WITN that Dylan Rasmussen, aged 31, was the victim. Rasmussen had recently purchased new tires from the shop. “Dylan was simply trying to enjoy his Sunday ride,” Snooks remarked, noting that Rasmussen had just had a haircut and was heading home.
Authorities have charged James Wells, 43, with the murder of Rasmussen, described as a “devoted husband” and “loving father.” The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. near the intersection of Burgaw Highway and Holly Shelter Road in Onslow County, according to police statements and court records.
The arrest warrant details that the altercation began on the highway, where Wells stopped and engaged in a verbal dispute with Rasmussen, who was on his motorcycle. The situation escalated when Wells allegedly pulled out a firearm and fatally shot Rasmussen in the chest.
Responding deputies from the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office discovered Rasmussen, an active-duty Marine, suffering from a single gunshot wound. He was swiftly taken to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Though the specific cause of the argument between the two men remains unknown, the sheriff’s office confirmed in a Facebook post that the deadly encounter originated from a road rage dispute between the individuals involved.
“This was an isolated event,” the office said. “The victim and suspect did not know each other.”
Wells fled the scene but was later arrested and charged with second-degree murder. He was being held this week on a $500,000 bond.
“Life is way too short to engage in this type of behavior,” District Attorney Ernie Lee told reporters in a statement this week, per WITN.
“We now have two individuals, one deceased and one sitting in jail,” Lee said. “We have two families, I’m sure, who are just devastated by all this. Life is just way too short to engage in this type of behavior. I mean, just don’t pull a weapon out on someone, it’s just not worth it.”
Onslow County Sheriff Chris Thomas urged the public on Facebook to stay safe and not “engage or escalate” confrontations with “aggressive or enraged” drivers.
“You never know what a stranger is capable of,” Thomas said.
A GoFundMe created for Rasmussen’s family describes how he “often spoke of how he looked forward to riding motorcycles with his sons as they grew older.” He was an active duty Marine who “dedicated his life not only to serving his country but, above all, to caring for and protecting his family,” according to the description.
“His love, strength, and unwavering commitment to those he loved were evident in everything he did,” the GoFundMe says.
