“He’s going to pay for what he did,” said the widow of a trucker who was shot twice in the back and killed during a road rage incident. It was both a promise and a declaration of victory. Her husband’s murderer had just been sentenced to 28 years to life in prison.
James Womack was a trucker and veteran of the U.S. Army. The Queens, New York native had served three tours in Iraq before coming home, moving his family to Omaha, and getting a job as a trucker. Then, one day in late 2017, he was gunned down during a road rage incident.
Womack was driving in Omaha when he was cut off by a gold Chevy Silverado just before the stoplight at 60th and L Streets.
Dashcam video from another vehicle showed Womack climb down out of his truck and walk up to the pickup. According to investigators, Womack slapped his palms on the passenger window and yelled “What the [expletive] are you doing?” before turning around and walking back toward his truck.
Just a few seconds later, two gunshots rang out hitting Womack in the back. He fell to the ground, and the Chevy pickup raced away.
“It was definitely stupid,” Omaha homicide Detective Ryan Davis said according to the Omaha World-Herald. “This guy was a working guy, he’s a dad, he’s a military veteran, and this is how he dies? Senseless, just completely senseless.”
Detectives didn’t have to search long to find 26-year-old Michael Benson and charge him with the crime. And last week a jury needed only four hours to find Benson guilty of second-degree murder, possession of a gun by a prohibited person, use of a weapon to commit a felony, and two counts of witness tampering after he told his girlfriends not to testify. Benson will serve 28 years to life in prison.
“We wanted justice for him…and that’s what we got,” said Ivonne Womack, James Womack’s widow according to WOWT. “I’m just glad he’s going to get what he’s going to get. What he deserves.”
Source: truckersreport, omaha, ketv, wowt
Max says
you just never know anymore. At least the guy didn’t get off by pleading, “I was scared for my life by this big burly trucker”.
To all you drivers out there….let it go. It’s not worth the risk of inciting a sociopath to violence.
Stephen Easton says
Yes you are right. I had some moron in Louisiana go berserk with me recently. I refused to get out of the truck. He held up traffic by blocking the I49 turnoff. I just stayed put. Then another dips..t in Arkansas in the middle of the night. A trucker. Banging on my sleeper leaping on my truck, threatening to destroy my truck and shining a bright light in my face. What for? He wanted me to move a little. I just reversed back 10 feet to let him out. I may be a coward but I am in one piece.
Duh says
Stephen – that’s not a coward move, that’s a “man-who-can-keep-his-head-on-straight-in-a-stressful-situation” move. A coward move would be not helping someone who is in danger. Keeping yourself in one piece while others work themselves into a self-induced stroke its just the smart play.
Note to the crazy hot-heads out there: Not everyone will be Stephen. You can only bang on so many sleepers before you meet a dumber, angrier version of yourself and then it is lights out. We’re all just trying to survive and make a living. Be Kind.
Andrew says
Nothing to do with being a coward you did the rt thing if someone need get then do what you have to do
Andrew says
Nothing to do with being a coward you did the rt thing
Lee says
Well think about it this way, you have to be alive to be considered a coward.
Maybe I am just dating myself, but it seems like a life isn’t worth anything to people these days.
When I was younger the most I had to worry about was getting my butt handed to me, but I knew I would still make it home, now they just want to shoot you.
James Epling says
Your not a coward. Your intelligent…
The way people are today, especially when I’m at work (12 year OTR driver). Is exactly why I carry, legally. I dont operate in the states I can’t. I also NEVER park at a truckstop. Only food, fuel and shower. There are better places that are much less involved with people.
Don says
No. You simply take the high road in those situations. Good Job sir. And, thank you my employer who has “Smart Drive” cams installed.
Deaconblues62 says
Truck Drivers carry guns too, letting it go is perhaps the best way to go no doubt I must agree.
I can’t tell you how many times I had to bite a hole in my lip when encountering the moron idiots that whip in front of you then SLAMM ON THE BRAKES, even some 4 wheeler drivers driving trucks do it. That’s the worst for me.
Keith says
Truck driver carrying guns is stupid and a federal offense to have one in your truck
None of it is worth 20 years behind bars
Bob says
That’s bs. It is not a federal offense. There is no restrictions to carrying a firearm in a commercial vehicle. We just have to go by the state laws we’re traveling in.
Pamela says
Sorry, but no it’s not a federal offense to carry in a CMV, there is no federal regulation that states you can not carry a firearm, usually it’s the companies that do not allow handguns to be carried. But my personal self would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6 to keep myself safe, in and out of a truck.
Deaconblues62 says
DING DING, BINGO..
mike says
dam rite to keep one with you to many nuts out hare
Kev says
Lies it is not a federal offense to carry a gun in your truck as long as you have a license check your facts first.and google is your friend dueces
Tim says
That is just mega carrier propaganda. Half of their week long orientation is a lie.
Ur dad says
And it is not against the federal law to carry a gun in your truck know your law I got a CCW in 38 States with a Class A to carry in my truck since I live out of my truck this is my home you can carry
Deaconblues62 says
LOL 😆, yeah I guess truckers can always depend on dialing 911 if your cell phone has a signal on some dark lonely highway or some get on Ramp where you had no choice but to stop, So if truckers carrying a gun is stupid; then driving a truck for a living is definitely stupid.
Gus Raynor says
Do you homework
It’s not against the law to carry a gun in a truck. I’ve been insponumerous times and I always present my handgun license first. Never a problem. Please provide the law your talking about!
Sk says
Not true… Depends on the state you’re in.
Rebecca Holtorf says
Learn the laws. The laws for truck drivers are the same as anyone. You can not have a weapon where they are prohibited without proper permits.
R G Patton Sr says
Better read your rights on carring a gun. 2nd gives you the right and trumps all other Laws.
Chet says
Keith before you show your ignorance you may want to look up the Federal law.
Kristian Merrell says
There are no federal laws prohibiting firearms in a cmv.
Gary says
That’s a false rumor
Jesse says
Wrong. Not illegal to have a gun in your truck if you have ccw permit.
Kevin says
That’s completely untrue. Please educate yourself before making such ignorant comments.
Steve says
Let it go is ABSOLUTELY correct. It’s hard sometimes, but this case is a perfect example of why it’s so important to remember.
Kevin Wilkerson says
This is why I always shudder whenever I hear people threatening each other on the radio. Never get out of your truck never approach anybody in road rage. It never ends well
David says
I dont get paid to road rage. So when someone is acting stupid on the road I just back out of it. Sometimes way back make them look stupid.
Craig Bernhardt says
I’ve tried that tactic a few times. It works. One time a car was being a d bag and cut me off. I dropped my speed to 50 mph in a 65. Another car following the idiot raced up alongside moron number 1 and started flipping him off. So revenge does come in one form or another
Inanyminet says
Not like the old days for sure. Nowadays, you never know who has a gun and who is going to use it for what reason. Those that need guns to settle a verbal dispute are not men, as they believe they are, but little cowards that hide behind the gun afraid to go face to face. Yes, it is not worth confronting anyone nowadays because you dont know who or what you are confronting.
Stephen Easton says
I don’t agree with you your comment is stupid. I am 63 out of shape and overweight. Do you really think I am going to go “face to face” with anybody. Get real. You have watched too many Clint Eastwood films.
Buck says
Old out of shape overweight perfect example of the truck drivers we have out there thank you very much for your comment
Lady Doe says
JUST LET THE STUPID PEOPLE GO . THEY WILL GET WHATS COMING TO THEM SOONER OR LATER. JUST LET THEM GO. AND LIVE TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY.
Deaconblues62 says
YEAH, THEY CAUGHT THE BASTARD.
Let’s see how tough he is in prison without a gun. 😲😆😂
George says
Hey Stephen do you represent Goodyear and have a real medical card or is it a forged one
R.J. says
Several years ago, I bought a used Kevlar vest on Ebay…
As the credit card company used to say, “Dont leave home without it ! ! !
Supertrucking says
Better check the expiration date one that Kevlar.
Scott says
Sounds to me like if Billy big rigger just stayed in his truck and chilled out he wouldn’t be dead.
Deaconblues62 says
OMG, a Swift training talking point, Billy Big Rigger???
What would you call him if he was driving a MERCEDES, OR BMW, OR AN RV?
Sara says
That is true driver if the trucker would have stayed in the truck but he did not. Then again why did that 4wheeler have such a gun?
AnotherPOV says
What a stupid idiot. Never get out of your truck and bang on a guys car for cutting you off.
Deaconblues62 says
The moron that pulled the trigger was more stupid, everybody has a camera 📸 nowadays, think 🤔 he’s still a virgin? LOL 😝
Noble1 says
Moral of the story ……. Two wrongs don’t make a right …………..
You don’t approach someone aggressively , and especially not without expecting them to retaliate in some shape or form !
Being a “Soldier” he should have known this . Unfortunately he was in the wrong confronting a wrong . You don’t go up to a vehicle banging on their window . It’s a hostile behavior .
How many wrongs have we committed as human beings ? Many . And when scolded are we receptive ? No we become defensive . But if approached in a friendly manner and explained a better way with kindness and understanding , we tend to be a lot more receptive .
Unfortunately the “soldier” acted on his emotions and used a hostile behavior when confronting someone and lost his life because of it ……….. That’s the moral of the story ………. Violence begets violence …………….
Shooting him in the back as he was walking away demonstrated that it was not in self defense and it wasn’t necessary . Now two lives have been lost due to a lack of emotional control . And remember the saying : “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” . I’ll leave you ponder on that for awhile ……
Conrad says
Eye for an eye lets taxpayers off the hook for supporting criminals.
Big Yellower says
You can have a firearm in Tractor as long as it’s in a lock box and can’t be reached from drivers seat. Also have to careful of states with restrictions too . No permit needed to have one in tractor.
Supertrucking says
There’s a little more to it than being in a lock box to be covered under federal transport law. You have to be able to legally poses the firearm at your destination. You must be on a continuous journey through and cannot stop or detain yourself other than fueling or an emergency. (Out of hours is not an emergency) and there’s more but the biggest problem is it must be unloaded and locked up separately from the ammunition. An unloaded firearm is useless.
Trucker Mike says
Here is my question…based on the charges this criminal is considered guilty of and the way in which things happened, how is it possible he can ever see the light of day? 28 years, which of course in most states means 14, he could be paroled and on the streets again?
The story doesn’t say how old the trucker was who got murdered, but, I’m going to guess over 40.
The low-life, less than human scum bag who committed this crime is 26 now, add 14 years, he could be a free man and still be potentially younger than his victim. I’m sorry, call me old fashioned, but, that isn’t right!
Take a life? Just punishment should SERVE life. He’s lucky they didn’t give him the death penalty.
Sara says
Now how would that looks if a trucker pulled a gun on that 4 wheeler. Then the 4 wheeler would claim he was threatened
Sounds like the kid behind the wheel needed attention he deserves life.
Milton says
I’ve been carrying for the passed 41 years in my truck. Not sure where some of you guys get your facts, but there is no federal law against carrying in a big truck. Just gotta know your state laws, and don’t go to Canada with the dang thing. I’ve had to pull mine 3 times in 41 years, thank God I had it, and I didn’t have to fire it. BTW, each time was because I was threatened. A 357 changes people attitude very quickly.
Dan says
Why don’t these idiots read the laws before quoting them … It’s wiser to keep your mouth shut and let people think you’re stupid. Than to speak… and prove then right !
William D Hadley says
I get cut off everyday. Brakes slammed on in front of me. Lane changes made without turn signals held up in traffic when I need to be somewhere on time. But never have I felt the urge to jump out of my car at a red light and beat on the truckers windshield and cuss the truck driver out for doing all that to me. Patience and tolerance is a virtue. The young man obviously was scared to death when he shot the truck driver in the back twice. Maybe after that driver beat on his window and was using all sorts of profanity he told the young man he was going to his truck and get his tire Billy and club the kid to death so the guy shot him in the back in self-defense. Did the video of all this catch any sound. I don’t know, sounds like fake trucker news to me. My question is why do it the truck driver think he could initiate the road rage in the first place? What was he thinking? He would just jump out of his 18 wheeler and accost the pick up truck driver? No, definitely this is fake news.
Conrad says
Got what he deserved? You take a life, you forfeit your own is justice.
Not making taxpayers support these scum in a modern prison industrial complex. 😡
Charlie says
It used to be you could duke it out not now days ,so much stress on the roads especially because people don’t quit texting ,distracted driving ,best to blow it off I know it’s tough sometimes
J says
No matter what happens , always be safe and stay in your truck. You have no idea who this other person is. You could be dead over something stupid.