Arrest Of Suspect In Road Rage Shooting Stuns Decatur Neighbors: ICYMI

DECATUR, GA -- Neighbors in a Decatur cul-de-sac are trying to fathom how one of their nicest neighbors could be accused of killing a man in a road rage incident. Residents said that Johnnie Hudson Jr. was the type of guy to mow the lawn of neighbors and was a helpful hand when somebody needed something.

Hudson, 39, is charged with murder in the shooting death of 33-year-old Chris Ervin. DeKalb County authorities said that Hudson and Ervin had a fender-bender on Interstate 285; when they pulled over, Ervin got out of his vehicle and began to approach the pickup truck of Hudson, who shot him through his driver's side window. SIGN UP: To get notified of more local news like this, click here to sign up for the Decatur Patch. Or find your Atlanta-area town here. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.

A passing motorist called police after seeing Hudson on the roadside with a body beside him. When another witness pulled over, Hudson reportedly asked him to call 911, saying "I just shot him," according to police. The incident has rattled Hudson's community. So much so that a group of his neighbors got together to comfort his wife.

"Just didn't seem like it was them," a neighbor told WXIA-TV. "He does nothing but good things."

"Shocked that it was him involve in a situation like that, because if you look at him, he just didn't look like he would be in a situation like that," the woman was quoted as saying. "He's a nice person."

The shooting has also puzzled Ervin's family. They wonder if some altercation between Hudson and the father of three preceded the crash. "It don't make sense to kill him like that. That's senseless," Ervin's uncle, Eric Ervin, told WSB-TV. "That's murder. That's cold-blooded murder."

Ervin posted on Facebook hours before his death that he was thankful to God that he was "lucky to be alive" and that he wanted to spread joy with others.

"Good morning friends and family I'm having a wonderful morning just sitting here with a big smile on my face thanking God for everything he has helped me look in through I am so lucky to be alive this morning I wanted to share my happiness with everybody I hope everyone feels the same way as I do this morning good morning Facebook it's Monday morning let's get this money," he posted.

Neighbors said the shooting doesn't jibe with what they know about Hudson, who has lived in the neighborhood for eight years. "He was always helping us," neighbor Curtis Favors told WXIA. "Everybody around here who needed things done or whatever the case be. He was always nurturing and giving a helping hand."

The responding officer said that when he was taking Hudson into custody, he asked if the victim was still alive.

Image via DeKalb County Sheriff's Office