Man shot to death in suspected Hilton Head Island road-rage incident
A 21-year-old Hilton Head Island man died early Wednesday after being shot in what the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is calling a road-rage incident on the island Tuesday evening.
Rhashard Spikes, 21, was pronounced dead just after midnight after he was flown to Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah.
Spikes, an employee of the Beaufort County Animal Shelter, was shot around 9 p.m. in the area of U.S. 278 and Southwood Park Drive, according to a Sheriff's Office news release.
Before his death, Spikes told investigators he was driving a Dodge Dart with two passengers on U.S. 278 when a small silver-colored vehicle with tinted windows traveling in the opposite direction veered into his lane. Capt. Bob Bromage of the Sheriff's Office said Wednesday morning the vehicle was possibly a Toyota.
Spikes was able to avoid a collision, the release said, and yelled out the window at the other driver.
As Spikes continued driving, he and his passengers noticed the same vehicle behind them speeding up to catch them in the left lane.
At least two shots rang out from that vehicle, according to the release, before it sped away. Bromage said the sheriff's office knows Rhashard was struck at least once, but an autopsy scheduled for Thursday at the Medical University of South Carolina could reveal another injury.
A wounded Spikes pulled over into a parking lot, where deputies and emergency personnel found him.
The Sheriff's Office does not have a description of the driver or the passengers of the suspect vehicle at this time, the release said. The investigation is being handled by the Sheriff's Office, according to Bromage.
Anyone with information or who may have been in the area at the time of the incident should contact Investigator Cornillus LaVan at (843) 255-3313 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC.
Follow Caitlin Turner on Twitter at twitter.com/Cait_E_Turner.
ANIMAL SHELTER REACTION
On its Facebook page, the Beaufort County Animal Services Department posted this statement about employee Rhashard Spikes, who died after being shot in an apparent road-rage incident on Hilton Head island on Aug. 4, 2015:
"Rhashard Spikes was a wonderful employee and friend who understood the meaning of the word team. He made many great contributions to us and Beaufort county. His work here will not be forgotten as well as his love for the animals. He will be greatly missed and we are devastated by his death. Rhashard will be remembered by the staff for his contagious smile and exuberance for life.
"Shelter Staff"
This story was originally published August 5, 2015 at 12:31 PM.