With profound sadness, family, friends, and members of the Park Layne community are mourning the heartbreaking loss of Luke Hollifield, 47, whose life ended following a tragic road rage shooting in Clark County.
According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the shooting occurred around 3:20 p.m. Wednesday near the Casey’s gas station at the intersection of Gerlaugh Road and South Dayton-Lakeview Road. Multiple 911 callers reported hearing gunfire and witnessing the aftermath.
One caller told dispatchers, “We saw a gentleman standing there. And then all of a sudden, he fell straight backwards.”
When deputies arrived, they found Hollifield in a ditch suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper chest. Despite emergency response efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Clark County Sheriff Christopher Clark said the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident that began in New Carlisle before escalating near the gas station.
Authorities said a woman was riding in Hollifield’s vehicle at the time of the shooting, but she was not injured.
Investigators identified the suspects as Semaj D. Mack, 25, and Damian N. Debose, 29, both of New Carlisle. Both men have been charged with murder.
Following the shooting, the suspects’ orange Jeep Renegade with an Iowa license plate fled the scene. Dayton police later stopped the vehicle and took Mack into custody. During the investigation, Debose was identified as the second suspect and later voluntarily turned himself in to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Both men are currently being held in the Clark County Jail as the investigation continues.
The tragic loss of Luke Hollifield has left his family, friends, and community grieving a life taken far too soon. As loved ones mourn his passing, they remember the memories he created and the impact he had on those around him.
May Luke Hollifield rest in peace, and may his family and loved ones find strength, comfort, and healing during this incredibly difficult time. His memory will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
