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Only one of two men in Raleigh road rage shootout is charged

Only one man was charged in connection to a Wednesday road rage shooting in Raleigh, even though video captured at the scene shows both men fired shots at each other.

Posted Updated

By
Amanda Lamb
, WRAL reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — Only one man was charged in connection to a Wednesday road rage shooting in Raleigh, even though video captured at the scene shows both men fired shots at each other.

Sylvester Stokes, 52, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Stokes was also the only one injured in the shooting, according to the Raleigh Police Department. His injuries were not life-threatening, and he was transported Wednesday to a local hospital for treatment.

The other driver involved in the shooting, Peter Ross, has not been charged with a crime. Authorities have not said whether or not he will be facing charges in the future.

Video sent to WRAL News by a witness shows that Stokes fired first, shooting at Ross while he was in his car with the door open. Ross returned fire, according to the video.

Local criminal defense attorney Daniel Meier said the reason only Stokes was likely charged in this situation is that under the law, Ross was acting in self-defense.

"If the police can determine who the initial aggressor was, they can certainly use that to decide whether or not to charge both or one," he said.

According to court records, Stokes was previously arrested with misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon in Franklin County in 2011. He was convicted two years later in 2013 but did not serve any prison time. Stokes is not legally allowed to own a gun after being charged with several felonies in 1994 related to possessing and distributing drugs.

Ross does not have a criminal record, state records show.

Stokes had a court appearance on Thursday morning, posted bond and was released.

Both Ross and Stokes declined to speak on the record about the shooting.

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