CRIME
CARY, NC – A man has been taken into custody following a deadly shooting on Interstate 40 early Friday morning. The incident occurred just before 6:30 a.m. on I-40 East near Cary, prompting a swift response from law enforcement.
The victim has been identified as 35-year-old Ricardo Baez Cardenas, a father of two who was reportedly on his way to work at the time of the shooting. Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe expressed condolences to the victim's family during a press briefing, stating, “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family during this time and we are committed to a thorough investigation.”
Later that evening, authorities arrested 35-year-old Josue Alejandro Quintanilla Reyes, charging him with Cardenas' murder. Sheriff Rowe praised the efforts of investigators, saying, “Thanks to the hard work of our investigators, we were able to quickly identify and arrest the person responsible.” The Wake County Sheriff’s Office received assistance from the Durham County Sheriff’s Office and the Durham Police Department during the investigation
A witness who was driving behind Cardenas’ vehicle shared dash camera footage with WRAL News, describing the moments leading up to the shooting. “It escalated from ‘wow that was a tight merge’ to ‘oh I think these people are having issues with each other,’” the witness recounted, noting the dangerous driving behavior. The footage captured the sound of multiple gunshots and the shattering of glass as Cardenas’ truck was struck.
The shooting caused significant traffic delays along the highway into Friday afternoon, as deputies responded to the scene. Investigators are continuing to piece together details surrounding the incident.
As this tragic story unfolds, authorities are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
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