PAINTER COMMUNITY — A Geraldine man has been arrested following a road-rage related shooting Monday evening along Highway 75 in the Painter Community, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.
DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said deputies responded at approximately 6:25 p.m. on Monday, May 18, to the intersection of Highway 75 and County Road 3 following reports of shots fired. Deputies were assisted at the scene by officers with the Geraldine and Crossville Police Departments.
Investigators with the DeKalb County Drugs and Major Crimes Unit were also called to assist after deputies determined a shooting had occurred and a vehicle had been struck by gunfire.
According to investigators, the incident stemmed from a road-rage encounter involving at least two vehicles traveling northbound on Highway 75. Authorities said the driver of a maroon GMC Denali SUV allegedly fired multiple rounds into the driver’s side door of another vehicle during the altercation.
Following the shooting, investigators determined the suspect had left the scene and traveled to a residence on County Road 822 in Crossville.
Law enforcement officers responded to the address and identified the suspected shooter as 36-year-old Russell Nick Vanicelli of Geraldine. Authorities made contact with Vanicelli and the vehicle believed to be involved in the shooting.
After obtaining and executing a search warrant, investigators collected additional evidence from the vehicle. Vanicelli was subsequently arrested and charged with six counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle.
Officials said the driver of the second vehicle was not struck by gunfire and did not suffer any major injuries.
Sheriff Welden urged motorists to avoid allowing anger to escalate while driving, emphasizing that poor decisions made in moments of frustration can have lasting consequences for multiple families. He encouraged drivers to slow down, create distance between vehicles, and contact law enforcement if a situation becomes dangerous rather than taking matters into their own hands.
The investigation remains ongoing.
