South Carolina Road Rage Incident Leads to Prison Sentence for Isiah O. Ezechukwu in I-77 Attack on Charles Jost on December 19, 2020

Rock Hill, SC (March 20, 2023) - Local news outlets report that a Rock Hill man has been sentenced to prison for a 2020 road rage incident on I-77 near the North Carolina/South Carolina line. The victim, 53-year-old war veteran Charles Jost, was shot in the face while returning from his mother's funeral in December 2020.

Jost recalled the terrifying moment when a car pulled up beside him on I-77, and he saw the driver holding a gun outside the window. The bullet shattered the glass and struck Jost's face, breaking bones and causing him to lose sight in his right eye. He spent 96 hours in the hospital and continues to recover from his injuries. Despite the pain, Jost remains grateful to be alive and credits a metal cross he carried in his pocket for protecting him.

The shooter, 35-year-old Isiah Obinna Ezechukwu Sr., was arrested in South Carolina and initially charged with attempted murder and possession of a stolen handgun. Ezechukwu ultimately pleaded guilty to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in a plea agreement. Judge Dan Hall sentenced him to 15 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, with credit for 860 days already served in jail.

During the trial, Senior Assistant Solicitors Hannah Woods and Chris Epting prosecuted the case, while York County Sheriff's Office deputies investigated the incident. Woods described the shooting as a road rage incident, noting that it could have happened to anyone. "It's scary. It could have been anyone. This was terrifying. They (the victims) were just driving on I-77," Woods said.

In court, Jost and his wife Dorothy described the ongoing impact of the shooting on their lives. Dorothy Jost admitted she remains scared to travel, saying, "Two years later and I am still scared."

Ezechukwu apologized to the victim and his family, while his lawyer Monier Abusaft called the shooting a "road rage" incident and asked the court for mercy. “Isiah is standing here today taking responsibility for his wrongful actions,” Abusaft said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines road rage as when a driver commits moving traffic offenses to endanger other persons or property. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by road rage on busy highways like I-77, the main commuter stretch for drivers between Rock Hill and Charlotte.

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