Delaware Man Charged with Murder After Fatal Road‑Rage Shooting

Delaware State Police arrested 28‑year‑old William Simpler Jr. of Saint Georges and charged him with first‑degree murder and possession of a firearm during a felony. The charges stem from a road‑rage incident on August 4 at the intersection of Salem Church Road and Old Baltimore Pike in Newark, Delaware, where Simpler allegedly shot motorcyclist Jason Paoletti.

Paoletti, a 46‑year‑old resident of Bear, was riding his motorcycle behind a Hyundai Elantra, stopped at a red light, and pulled his bike in front of the car. After a verbal altercation, Paoletti stepped off his motorcycle and reached into a saddlebag; Simpler, identified as the front‑seat passenger of the Hyundai, then fired, striking Paoletti. He was taken to a local hospital and later died from his injuries. Simpler was taken into custody at his residence, arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court, and committed to the Delaware Department of Correction on $1.5 million cash bail. The homicide investigation remains active.