A mother of six children traveling from Pennsylvania to Hilton Head Island with her husband for their anniversary last week was shot to death in an apparent road rage incident on Interstate 95 in North Carolina.
The shooting happened shortly before noon Thursday in Lumberton, about 125 miles southeast of Charlotte.
On Monday, authorities released a surveillance image of a silver four-door 2008-2013 Chevrolet Malibu with North Carolina license plates, calling it the suspect vehicle.
Julie Eberly, 47, of Manheim, Pennsylvania, died at a nearby hospital after being mortally wounded through the passenger door of the vehicle driven by her husband, Ryan, who was not injured, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.
Their children were staying with relatives at the time of the deadly encounter.
The couple’s car accidentally encroached upon the suspect vehicle as Ryan Eberly attempted to change lanes, Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said. That’s when the driver of the Malibu, who remains at large, pulled alongside the Eberlys, lowered his window and fired “multiple shots into the passenger door,” Wilkins said.
“Thankfully they had left their six children at home with grandparents, but now these kids have to live with the thought of their mother being murdered in such a cowardly and senseless way,” Wilkins said. “My heart goes out to this family and I ask that everyone reading this stop and pray for this entire family.”
An anonymous donor has put up a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest.
Wilkins said he met with the victim’s family.
“As devastated as they are, they were so appreciative of the outpouring of support they have received not only from their home community in Pennsylvania but our community as well,” the sheriff wrote on Facebook. “I say all of that to say this. ‘Thank You Robeson County,’” he added. “It literally brings tears to my eyes to know that you have come forward in such a way to want to assist this family especially as they are from out of state. That alone speaks volumes.”
Susan Eberly, Julie Eberly’s mother-in-law, said in an online fundraiser that her daughter-in-law was a “beautiful, loving, generous, and giving person.”
Kristen Bittner, a daughter of Julie Eberly, said on Facebook that her heart had been “completely shattered” by her mother’s death.
“I will cherish all the good memories, laughter and love I got to share with her these past 21 years,” Bittner wrote. “Taken from us way [too] soon in the most awful way, she did not deserve this. My mom deserved to die old, with family surrounding her.”
About the Author
