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Suspect accused in road rage death faces manslaughter charges

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The man accused of killing a motorcyclist during an apparent road rage incident is facing voluntary manslaughter charges, according to court documents.

Police say Nick Norris was shot around 6:30 p.m. Sunday in the 500 block of North Rural Street. The shooting stemmed from a road rage incident between two motorcyclists and a Dodge Durango, driven by Ron Stewart.

According to court documents, two motorcyclist were traveling south along Rural Street when Stewart cut off the motorcycles in his Durango. The passenger of one of the motorcycles told police that Norris caught up with Stewart and started yelling at him about watching for bikes on the road.

The court documents also say that they were all stopped at the light again near 10th Street. When the light turned green, Stewart took off in the SUV which kicked up rocks and other debris onto the bikes. They all continued south on Rural until Stewart pulled into the First Cash Pawn parking lot. A surveillance video obtained from the business showed the confrontation.

Officers say the video shows the Durango enter the lot and then attempt to leave the parking lot onto Michigan Street. The two bikes then pull in front of the Durango. Norris drives over to Stewart’s passenger window and hit the vehicle with some type of “chrome ball,” according to court documents. Stewart then pulled forward toward Michigan Street. Surveillance video shows him exit the vehicle and begins to fire his weapon toward Norris.

Stewart’s Defense Attorney Travis Fox made a brief statement Friday, but he wouldn’t elaborate on the case.

“We have no comment to the allegations that are made,” said Fox. “We will try the case in the courtroom where the truth will come out.”

A family member for Stewart left the courtroom with Fox without speaking to media.

Prosecutors decided to charge Stewart with voluntary manslaughter instead of murder.

A voluntary manslaughter charge means the suspect had no intent to kill, instead it was a crime in the heat of passion.

According to an autopsy, Norris was hit in the left rear shoulder and in his head.

Police say the video shows that at the time Stewart began firing his weapon he had a clear exit to leave the parking lot.

Stewart was arrested on Tuesday at a hotel in the 3700 block of North Shadeland Avenue. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

Family and friends have a vigil planned for Friday evening to honor Norris and to ask for the violence to stop.