HANCOCK COUNTY — Family and friends of a Carthage man killed during a road rage incident on I-70 near Post Road on Monday took to social media to share their shock and disbelief over his passing.
Eli Hickerson, 30, Carthage, was a passenger in a vehicle traveling on I-70 when he was shot and killed by an Indianapolis man, officials say. Hickerson was called an amazing person, someone who was quiet, yet outspoken, sweet but sassy, loving and always welcoming, by those who knew him, his friends say.
Dion Kimbrough, 22, Indianapolis, has been arrested and charged with Hickerson’s murder. Officials from the Indiana State Police say Kimbrough had a warrant out for his arrest and was wearing a GPS monitoring system at the time of the incident, Monday, July 18.
Troopers from the ISP Indianapolis District were called to the scene of the shooting which occurred on I-70 eastbound near Post Road. According to police, 911 dispatchers received information the victim was being driven from the scene of the shooting to a medical facility near I-70 and Mt. Comfort Road in Hancock County.
Upon arrival, medical personnel from the facility came outside and attempted life-saving measures on the victim, unfortunately Hickerson was pronounced deceased a short time after arrival. Troopers responded to both locations, I-70 eastbound at Post Road and the medical facility, to conduct an investigation.
Preliminary investigation by state police detectives determined Hickerson was a passenger in a red Ford Focus traveling eastbound when shots were allegedly fired by the driver of a white box truck at the Ford Focus, striking, Hickerson at least one time.
Officials believe the incident began as road rage, they said.
Detectives arrested Kimbrough on Tuesday and served several subsequent search warrants related to the crime, police say. At the time of the arrest, Kimbrough was wearing a GPS monitoring device on his ankle, officials said. Prior to being booked into the Marion County Jail, a felony arrest warrant was discovered for an unrelated crime. He is being held in the Marion County Jail on the probable cause of murder and possession of a handgun by a serious violent felon.
Indiana State Police Indianapolis District Commander, Lieutenant Josh Watson, said the arrest is a result of an extraordinary effort by detectives, troopers and other assisting police agencies who worked tirelessly to solve the crime.
“They diligently investigated the crime scene, gathered intelligence information and followed each lead meticulously, resulting in the arrest of the person we believe is responsible for this senseless act,” Watson said in a press release.
In the meantime, those who knew Hickerson called his passing tragic and described him as a genuine person on social media.
“Eli you brought so much light and laughter to this world, it’s going to be different down here without you,” a friend wrote on Facebook.
Another wrote, “let me tell you this about Eli, he was tough as they come and his heart was as big as his strong willed attitude. Every time I would see him, I would give him a big bear hug. I told my dad many of times that Eli was my little brother. We played football next to each other, we laughed with each other, and we loved each other. My thoughts are with his entire family,” said his friend, Jake Hahn, Greenfield.
