James Wells made his first court appearance Monday morning in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where a district court judge raised his bond to $500,000. Wells is accused of fatally shooting Marine Dylan Rasmussen during an apparent road rage incident.
According to investigators, the confrontation happened Sunday around 1:30 p.m. near the intersection of Burgaw Highway and Holly Shelter Road in Onslow County. Deputies said Wells stopped his vehicle after an argument with Rasmussen, who was riding a motorcycle. During the exchange, Wells allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Rasmussen once in the chest.
Deputies found the 31-year-old Marine suffering from a gunshot wound when they arrived. Rasmussen was taken to a nearby hospital but later died from his injuries. Wells has been charged with second-degree murder, as per local WITN.
District Attorney Ernie Lee called the shooting a senseless act that could have been avoided. “It’s not worth it. It is simply not worth it. Sometimes it is good to turn the other cheek and just move on,” Lee said. He added that the incident has devastated both families. “We now have two individuals, one deceased and one sitting in jail.
We have two families, I’m sure, who are just devastated by all this. Life is just way too short to engage in this type of behavior. I mean, just don’t pull a weapon out on someone, it’s just not worth it.” Friends and fellow riders remembered Rasmussen as a kind and passionate member of the motorcycle community. Ryne Snooks, owner of Ready to Ride, said Rasmussen had recently stopped by his shop to buy new tires.
“Knowing Dylan was trying to enjoy his Sunday afternoon ride, I heard he just got his haircut and was going home,” Snooks said. Snooks said Rasmussen was relatively new to riding but eager to learn. “It’s heartbreaking. He was a good guy and loved being part of the riding community,” he added. In the wake of the tragedy, Snooks urged fellow riders to come together in support.
“Our rider community needs to stick together even more right now than ever. I’d like to see riders sticking and riding together, even if it’s to get a haircut,” he said. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help Rasmussen’s family. The page describes him as a dedicated Marine and father who loved spending time with his young sons and looked forward to sharing his passion for motorcycles with them.