Luke Sherman

Luke Sherman, 35, was driving on Interestate 64 when Robert Farek, 48, ped past Sherman's Chevy Equinox on the left shoulder of the highway and then immediately hit the brakes of his Toyota Prius, said the St. Charles County Prosecutor Joe McCulloch. Sherman's coworker, a passenger in the SUV, told police that about a half-mile after Farek sped past Sherman's SUV, Sherman did the same to Farek. It wasn't immediately clear how fast the two were driving, officials said. The passenger said he tried to calm Sherman, who was upset by Farek's driving. Eventually, Sherman began to pull off the highway at the Winghaven exit. Farek followed, the prosecutor said. The witness inside the SUV said Sherman was still upset when he suddenly parked the SUV, exited the vehicle and ran toward the driver's side of Farek's vehicle. The witness also got out of the SUV, but stayed near it. The witness told police he then heard four gunshots and saw Sherman fall to the ground. Farek then exited his vehicle, placed his hand on Sherman's chest, and appeared to be calling someone on his phone, the witness told authorities. Officials say Farek called 911 shortly after 3:30 p.m., telling dispatchers, "someone just attacked me, and I just shot him." He later told police that he was punched through the window of his car, and that his face was hurting, according to the probable cause statement. Sherman was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators recovered a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun at the scene. No other guns were recovered at the scene. Sherman's autopsy revealed he was shot once, in the lower chest. The bullet exited through his right shoulder blade. There was no evidence of a close-contact gunshot wound, officers said, further reinforcing for investigators that the shooting was not in self-defense, according to court documents. Farek "continued his aggressive behavior, and when he was confronted, pulled out his gun and was even more aggressive," McCulloch said. Farek was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.