Ricardo Baez Cardenas, a 35-year-old Hispanic male, tragically lost his life on March 7, 2025, in Cary, North Carolina, following a fatal shooting incident on Interstate 40 East near N. Harrison Avenue. The incident, suspected to be a case of road rage, occurred around 6:20 a.m. while Cardenas was on his way to work. Authorities responded to reports of gunfire and discovered Cardenas inside his vehicle, which had veered off to the side of the road.
He was transported to a hospital with severe injuries but was pronounced dead later that afternoon.
Law enforcement swiftly launched an investigation into the shooting, leading to the arrest of 32-year-old Josue Alejandro Quintanilla-Reyes. Reyes was charged with murder in connection to Cardenas' death. Witnesses reported that the altercation began when a sedan attempted to merge into a lane occupied by a pickup truck, escalating into aggressive driving behavior. A witness, who recorded the moments leading up to the shooting, described hearing gunshots and seeing shattered glass and debris. The suspect's vehicle was seen exiting the highway at Cary Town Boulevard before re-entering the interstate westbound.
Authorities, including the Wake County Sheriff's Office, the Durham County Sheriff's Office, and the Durham Police Department, collaborated in the investigation. Sheriff Willie Rowe expressed gratitude to the community for their patience and assured a thorough inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The incident caused significant traffic delays as investigators collected evidence at the scene. Cardenas' family, mourning his loss, emphasized the importance of road safety and urged drivers to remain vigilant to prevent similar tragedies.
Cardenas, originally from Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico, was a devoted father of two children, Ricardo Jr. Baez and Valerie Rose Baez. His funeral services were held at Clements Funeral Chapel in Durham, with burial following at Maplewood Cemetery. His family, deeply affected by his untimely passing, requested privacy as they navigated their grief. The investigation into the motive behind the shooting remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to piece together the events leading up to the fatal encounter.
