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Father Killed In Road Rage Shooting After Daytona 500

Posted: 11:59 pm EST February 18, 2007Updated: 5:37 pm EST February 19, 2007

New information is being released about what happened moments before a deadly road rage shooting on I-4. Police said three Jacksonville men fought with 36-year-old Eric Houk, of Land O' Lakes, and his brother near the State Road 44 exit.

During that fight, someone grabbed a gun and shot Houk right in front of dozens of other drivers.

David Edwards, Ronlee Harvin and Charles Onasanya all stood quietly before a Seminole County judge, Monday, but eyewitnesses said it was the men's tempers that brought them to that point.

"I do find sufficient evidence to hold you on a charge of second degree murder," the judge said in court Monday.

Investigators said the three men and female passenger were riding in the emergency lane along I-4 in an attempt to avoid Daytona 500 traffic. That's when, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said, they were cut-off by 36-year-old Eric Houk, who was leaving the race. Houk pulled into the suspects’ path in order to avoid hitting another driver.

According to the charging affidavit, Houk and his brother and the three suspects jumped out of their vehicles and things got physical. A frantic 911 call detailed what happened next.

"They shot him," a caller to 911 said.

"They shot who?" the dispatcher questioned.

"Some men in a...," the caller said.

Detectives said Onasanya brought out the gun, before Harvin handed it off to Edwards. And it was, according to investigators, Edwards who shot and killed Land O' Lakes father and soccer coach Eric Houk.

The Jacksonville men then jumped back in their SUV and took off. They only made it as far as Seminole County.

Monday afternoon, the women who came to see three suspects had nothing to say to Eyewitness News, but Houks friends are talking.

"I still can't believe the man is gone," said Houk's neighbor, Mario Grasso. "It sort of gives you a perspective on life and how precious it is. I look at it this way, God must have needed a good soldier. He's sorely going to be missed here."

The three suspects will be transported to the Volusia County jail, where they'll make their next appearance. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said, for security reasons, they can't say exactly when that might be.

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