MARIANNA — Two motorcyclists allegedly involved in a lengthy and deadly road rage incident were released on bond Thursday, a day after their companion died in a Panama City hospital.
Craig Fredrickson, 29, of Maple Hill, N.C., and 49-year-old Kevin Denkevitz, of Sanford, N.C., have both posted bond and been released from jail. Their traveling companion, 56-year-old Terry Joe Gibbs, was injured after he was knocked off his motorcycle June 17 and died Wednesday morning after nearly 10 days in the hospital.
Fredrickson and Denkevitz face felony charges for allegedly confronting another driver at the Sunoco gas station on State 71 near Interstate 10 after a road rage incident nearly an hour earlier then opening fire on the driver and his passengers.
According to a redacted incident report provided by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and court records:
Ronald Haney, 43, of Milton, and two passengers were travelling on the interstate and became embroiled in a dispute involving threats and hand gestures with the motorcyclists. The dispute “seemed to be quashed” 45 minutes later when Haney pulled the Ford pickup alongside a pump at the station.
Haney and his two female travelling companions, who are not identified in the records, got out of the truck, but urged them back in when he saw the motorcyclists pull up. The three bikers “strategically” parked along the passenger side and in front of the truck to block Haney in.
Fredrickson walked up to the driver’s side and hit the mirror, knocking it off the truck, then punched Haney in the mouth as Haney tried to back away. Haney hit Denkevitz’s motorcycle as he backed up, and Denkevitz responded by drawing a 9-mm. pistol and pointing it at Haney.
Haney drove forward into Gibbs’ motorcycle, which was parked sideways directly in the path of the truck, as Denkevitz began to fire into the cab of the truck. Gibbs was ejected from the motorcycle, which became lodged under the truck.
Denkevitz kept firing as he approached the truck, which pushed the motorcycle to the southernmost side of the parking lot, far enough for Haney back off of it and flee to another gas station nearby, where he called 911. The truck was hit with several shots, but Haney and his passengers were not injured except for a cut on Haney’s lip from being punched in the face.
A deputy who responded found a man with a severe head injury being tended to by a woman and two men. The same deputy found a loaded pistol with the slide cocked back in a compartment of a motorcycle. Much of the deputy’s report was redacted for reasons that were not explained, and JCSO officials did not comment.
Fredrickson is charged with burglary of an occupied conveyance with battery and criminal mischief. He was released on a bond totaling $16,000 and has filed a written plea of not guilty.
Denkevitz is charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and shooting into an occupied vehicle. He posted a bond totaling $15,000 and was released.
No charges against Haney have been filed.