ZEBULON, N.C. — A Johnston County man has lost his life after being shot early Thursday morning while traveling along US 64 near Zebulon, marking the second fatal shooting along a Wake County highway in just days, officials reported Sunday.
According to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office and NCDOT, the highway was temporarily closed around 7:30 a.m. Thursday near Lizard Lick Road. A Jeep SUV, with a tarp covering the front windshield, was found parked on the shoulder about two miles west of Zebulon.
The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Derick Godwin of Johnston County. He was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries and later passed away, according to a Sunday morning news release from the sheriff’s office.
Authorities noted that this shooting occurred just two days before another deadly incident along a Wake County highway. In that earlier case, a 39-year-old Wake County man died hours after a shooting and vehicle crash along Knightdale Boulevard at Old Milburnie Road on Saturday morning.
Deputies have stated that while the shooter in both incidents has been identified, no arrest has been made in the Thursday morning shooting involving Godwin. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal attack.
The US 64 corridor was closed until approximately 11:30 a.m. Thursday to allow investigators to process the scene. Officials are urging anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Wake County Sheriff’s Office to assist with the ongoing investigation.
This tragic event highlights growing concerns about highway safety and violence in the region, and the community continues to mourn the loss of Derick Godwin while authorities work to bring answers and accountability.
