NJ Cop's Road Rage Murder: Joseph Walker Kills Man On Interstate, Raising Questions On Whether Road Rage Is A Real Mental Health Concern
![Joseph Walker](https://d.medicaldaily.com/en/full/228912/joseph-walker.jpg?w=318&f=b8fdefb44b9bf6071b528fa0c08ccd0c)
A sworn officer of the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office has landed on the other side of the law after an apparent road rage incident turned deadly this past Saturday night. Joseph Walker, 40, of Easthampton, N.J. is being held by Maryland State Police for the second-degree murder and manslaughter of 36-year-old Joseph Harvey Jr. of Millersville, Md. over a traffic dispute.
Walker is awaiting trial in a Maryland Correction Facility on $1 million bail. Authorities said his wife and three young children were in the car while the scene unfolded on the shoulder lane of Route 3 in Millersville.
Maryland state police troopers claimed Harvey approached Walker's minivan from his green Honda while the two vehicles were pulled over on the shoulder of Route 3's northbound exit ramp to Interstate 97. Witnesses reported Harvey walking in an "aggressive manner," which prompted Walker to announce that he was a police officer, MyFoxNY reports.
When Harvey continued his march toward the minivan, Walker pulled out his Glock .45-caliber handgun and fired several rounds in his aggressor's direction striking the man. Emergency medical serives (EMS) transported Harvey to Baltimore-Washington Medical Center where doctors pronounced him dead.
"We are aware of the fatal shooting incident involving one of our detectives, who was off-duty and traveling in Maryland with his wife and children," said Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Spokesperson Gene Rubino.
"All press inquiries regarding this matter are being referred to Maryland law enforcement authorities, who are conducting this investigation."
There's no denying the unnecessarily drastic measures Walker took during this incident; however, does road rage have actual medical standing?
According to the latest research, extreme bouts of anger experienced while operating a motor vehicle may encompass a variety of aggressive behaviors. A study conducted in July 2010 determined that various environmental and psychological factors contributed to road rage including traffic density, number of miles driven, displaced aggression, and attributing blame to others.
Road rage has also been suggested as a possible sign on intermittent explosive disorder, a psychological condition characterized by repeated displays of impulsive aggression and violent behavior. Outbursts are also usually accompanied by verbal assaults, although more damaging effects are reported as the behavior persists.