Ricardo Baez Cardenas Obituary, Death; – Ricardo Baez Cardenas, who sustained gunshot wounds while driving on I-40 on Friday morning, has succumbed to his injuries. The Wake County Sheriff’s Department confirmed this tragic news at approximately 5:30 p.m.
The incident occurred around 6:20 a.m. on Interstate 40 East, close to N. Harrison Avenue. The Watch Commander of the Raleigh Police Department verified that it was a shooting involving two vehicles.
Upon arrival, Wake County deputies discovered a vehicle on the roadside with the injured driver inside. According to deputies, the individual was transported to a hospital with severe injuries and was pronounced dead later that afternoon. A witness, who recorded the events leading up to the shooting, informed ABC11 that he suspected it was an instance of road rage.
While the Wake County Sheriff’s Office has not officially confirmed the motive for the shooting, it is believed to be related to road rage. The witness recounted that the situation escalated near Aviation Parkway when a sedan attempted to merge into a lane near a pickup truck.
At that moment, the witness observed both drivers engaging in aggressive driving, prompting him to record the incident, fearing it would result in a collision. It was during this time that he heard gunfire and witnessed debris and glass shattering. The witness subsequently called 911 and followed the sedan as it exited the highway at Cary Town Boulevard before re-entering the interstate heading westbound.
Before the victim’s identity was disclosed, ABC11 learned that he was employed by Wilson & Cofield, a company based in Morrisville. A spokesperson for the company stated that they had no additional information regarding the incident but emphasized, “Above everything, the safety of our employees is at the forefront of importance for our company. Our thoughts and prayers are with our employee and his family, as well as with all those involved in the incident.”
Authorities remained on the scene for several hours gathering evidence, resulting in a portion of the right lane being closed until shortly after noon. Following the announcement of Cardenas’s death, the Wake County Sheriff issued a statement expressing gratitude to the residents of the community.
