36-year-old arrested following road rage shooting on Highway 75

DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office

A 36-year-old man has been arrested following a road rage shooting on Highway 75 on May 18, 2026.

According to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO), at approximately 6:25 p.m. Dekalb County Deputies along with Officers with Geraldine and Crossville Police Departments responded to the intersection of Highway 75 and County Road 3 in the Painter Community in regards to a shots-fired call.

Investigators with the Dekalb County Drugs and Major Crimes Unit were also contacted and responded once Deputies on scene determined that a shooting had taken place and a vehicle had been struck by gunfire.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined that at least two vehicles had been involved in a road-rage related incident while traveling northbound on Highway 75, according to the DCSO.

They say it was also determined that the driver of one of the vehicles, a maroon GMC Denali SUV, had fired multiple rounds into the second vehicle’s driver’s side door. The driver of the maroon GMC Denali had then left the scene and went to an address on County Road 822 in Crossville.

Investigators responded to that address, made contact with the shooter and his vehicle and identified the shooter as Russell Nick Vanicelli, 36.

They say after a search warrant was applied for and executed, other evidence was gathered from Vanicelli’s vehicle and Vanicelli was arrested on six counts of Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle.

The driver of the other vehicle involved was not struck by gunfire and received no major injuries.