In a shocking incident of road rage turned deadly, a woman took matters into her own hands to protect herself from a relentless aggressor in Raleigh, North Carolina on Tuesday evening. The incident happened in the Food Lion parking lot at the Greystone Village Shopping Center.
According to Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman, no charges are being filed against the woman responsible for the shooting. Video footage and witness accounts have shed light on the situation, revealing that the man, identified as Steven McLamb was the aggressor in this unfortunate event.
“Also there were witnesses in the area that were interviewed and were able to give a pretty clear picture as to what happened here,” Freeman said, speaking to WRAL-TV.
The 49-year-old reportedly followed the woman into the parking lot, and upon approaching her vehicle, he attempted to enter it. In an act of self-defense, the woman, who legally owned the gun she was carrying, used her weapon to protect herself.
Man apparently fueled by road rage follows woman into parking lot, tries to enter her vehicle — but she's carrying a gun and fatally shoots him https://t.co/nqhRJCmXIn
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 5, 2023
The shooting resulted in McLamb’s death as he later succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital.
Authorities revealed that the woman involved had no criminal history, and she acted within the bounds of the law. According to Freeman, North Carolina law allows individuals to protect themselves when they have a reasonable fear of imminent death or serious bodily harm.
This is in accordance with North Carolina’s Castle Doctrine (Statute 14-51.2), which permits individuals to defend themselves within specific locations, such as their home, automobile, or workplace. The law recognizes these places as an individual’s castle, ensuring their right to protect themselves.
Freeman, however, clarified that this provision is not an invitation to pursue vigilante justice, but a means for people to defend themselves when faced with life-threatening situations.