A Pennsylvania family is reeling after a road rage incident on I-95 led to the death of wife and mother Julie Bittner Eberly.
Julie and husband Ryan Eberly were on vacation in North Carolina, celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary. The couple were on their way to Hilton Head when they were involved in the tragic situation, Penn Live reports.
After they came in close contact with another car, the car's driver rolled down his window and began firing into Julie and Ryan's car. Ryan, who was driving, was uninjured.
Investigators are looking for someone who witnessed what happened to come forward with information as they continue to look for the culprit who took Julie from her husband and six kids.
A faithful woman who was a wife and mother of six is dead after the heartless actions of a complete stranger. Julie Eberly was on vacation with husband Ryan Eberly in celebration of their seventh wedding anniversary. They were due to meet another couple, friends who had married at the same time they did, to celebrate in Hilton Head, North Carolina.
Ryan was driving on I-95 when their car came in close contact with the suspect's car, a silver or gray Chevrolet Malibu or Impala with tinted windows, while merging into a lane. The suspect's car then pulled up next to Ryan's and fired multiple shots into the passenger door. One of the bullets struck Julie.
Julie later died at a local hospital at 47 years old. "We want to tell Julie's story in the hope that someone, somewhere will come forward, who knows the individual who took the cowardly action of firing a gun from a moving car into another vehicle," Ryan told Penn Live.
"Finding this person won't bring Julie back, but it will provide justice for Julie and prevent this from happening to anyone else. It will also provide comfort and a bit of closure for Julie's family."
Ryan wants to make sure the world knows what kind of woman his wife was. "Julie made it her mission to open [our] home to friends, family, and neighbors. It was her joy to have these people around her and bless them with her hospitality," her husband said.
"Julie's roots of faith grew deep. She was involved in several prayer ministries and deeply passionate in helping people find healing. Everyone who knew her enjoyed her joy for life and positive spirit. Her distinct laugh still echoes in the hearts of everyone she touched. Even in the midst of this horrific tragedy, we are seeing the hand of God through the care and concern of many individuals."
The Robeson County Sheriff's Office announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
"While we hope that anyone with information in this case would come forward, this provided incentive should be cause to do so even more. I appreciate the resident coming forth with this reward" says Sheriff Burnis Wilkins.
Julie's family has started a GoFundMe for the many people who have reached out, asking how to help. They will donate the funds to charities in Julie's memory. They've raised over $50,000 so far.
Though the generosity around them has been inspiring, the family is having a hard time grappling with the sudden loss of Julie.
"As Ryan and Julie's children grew and matured, they were looking forward to the next stages of their lives together including enjoying being first-time grandparents. Julie truly had a mother's heart and delighted in being an integral part of each of the children's lives," her mother-in-law, Susan Eberly, told ABC15.
