Man dies after shooting in downtown Harrisburg, presumably related to road rage

A man is dead after being shot in an apparent incident of driving aggression in downtown Harrisburg, a block from the Capitol.

City police have closed State Street between Second and Third Streets, where the murder occurred, and were still investigating the crime scene at around 6:30 p.m. as of this writing.

According to Harrisburg Police Captain Atah Akakpo-Martin, the shooting appears to be connected to an earlier traffic dispute on Interstate 81.

“There was a reported incident of road rage coming off the highway into this area,” Akakpo-Martin told PennLive at the scene, confirming that a man had died from a single gunshot wound.

While police were investigating the crime scene, a black Chevrolet sedan was parked in the westbound lane of State Street. Police had set up privacy screens next to the vehicle, behind which the victim’s body was located, several residents told PennLive.

A witness – one of several people who were leaving a dinner at St. Patrick Cathedral when the shooting occurred – said the victim got out of his vehicle to confront the occupants of the Chevrolet.

The victim apparently sprayed pepper spray into the car, the witness said. A man in the Chevrolet then warned him to go back before shooting him.

“We heard him say, ‘Get off my car’ and then ‘Pow!'” the witness said, imitating a gunshot.

Akakpo-Martin said a can of pepper spray was found at the scene, but could not yet confirm the exact timeline of events.

Police have taken “a person of interest” in for questioning, Akakpo-Martin said.