Deputies: Dad shot, killed in front of kids in Catawba County road rage case

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — One man is dead and another is in custody after a road rage incident sparked a shooting in Catawba County Saturday evening.

Catawba County sheriff’s deputies were called to Island Point Road around 4:50 p.m. for a report of a shooting. Deputies found Jeffery Michael Guida, 40, dead with apparent gunshot wounds.

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Investigators said the gunman got into an argument with Guida while driving on Island Point Road. Deputies interviewed witnesses who explained that both men got out of their cars. The suspect fired a rifle, hitting Guida and his Jeep Wagoneer, investigators said.

Guida’s three children, ages 2, 11, and 13, were in the vehicle during the shooting. Fortunately, deputies say the children were not injured.

“The children could have been injured or killed as well,” said Maj. Aaron Turk, with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. “Thankfully, that did not happen.”

Thanks to the help of the witnesses, deputies say they were able to connect the vehicle and suspect description to a home on Sherrills Ford Road, where they arrested Eugene Giddens, 75.

Giddens was taken into custody and charged with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder. He’s being held with no bond.

“The amount of violence that occurred, seemingly from two people who didn’t know each other, it shocked me personally,” Turk said.

Guida’s family was in court Monday for Giddens’ first court hearing, but they didn’t want to talk. Neither did Giddens, who said very little during the hearing. He did tell the judge that his family would hire an attorney for him.

Herb Pearce is a defense attorney who has worked cases in Catawba County for 46 years.

Pearce said older people who are defendants sometimes get sympathy in the courtroom, but this case is different.

“It’s hard because the person has committed such a vile act and endangered children here,” Pearce said.

Shooting into the SUV with children inside may be enough of an aggravating factor for prosecutors to seek the death penalty if they want, Pearce said.

“The guy is 75 years old,” the attorney said. “If he is convicted of anything, he will die in prison.”

The children’s identities will not be released due to their ages.