‘Heart of gold’: Friends mourn motorcyclist killed in road rage shooting

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) – “A heart of gold.”

That’s how a motorcyclist killed in a road rage shooting is being remembered.

Paul “Fujimo” Howell, 49, was one of two motorcyclists shot Saturday night in Murfreesboro.

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“He was my brother, not just mine, but everybody in the club,” said Wayne “Cowboy” Young, president of the Grey Wolves RC.

Much like their riding club’s name, the Grey Wolves are a pack.

“I just wish I could have been there to stop it,” Young said.

Young, however, had his last ride with his brother by his side just hours before his life ended.

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“It’s terrible,” he cried.

It was around 7:45 p.m. Saturday, April 13. Paul was with his girlfriend and a couple of other riders on South Rutherford Boulevard when Young said a driver started break checking the bikers, trying to cause an accident.

Murfreesboro police said the driver, 39-year-old Joseph Gann, fired multiple shots in a fit of road rage, killing Paul.

“I just don’t understand how somebody could take somebody else’s life over something so stupid. I just don’t understand it,” Young said.

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Police said Gann also struck a second motorcyclist in the arm.

“He got out of surgery yesterday. The bullet traveled up his arm and lodged in his shoulder,” Young explained.

Gann left the scene, but later turned himself in, according to investigators.

“Stop with the road rage stuff; it’s not worth it. I mean, you’re taking somebody’s dad, brother, I mean just stop it,” Young pleaded.

The thought consumes Young’s mind as he rode solo down the road where Paul’s life came to an end.

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“That was the hardest part,” he cried while vowing to fight for justice.

Paul, who was better known as “Fujimo,” was the life of the party, according to Young, often dancing to music on his bike. He described the 49-year-old father as a big teddy bear with a heart of gold, saying he served as the club’s Sergeant at Arms, often organizing benefit rides to help others.

“He tried to be so tough, but his heart was so big he couldn’t do it,” Young said.

A celebration of life will be held for Fujimo on Saturday, May 11. The Grey Wolves are planning to host an annual memorial ride that will launch on Saturday, Aug. 31.

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A GoFundMe has been created to help with memorial expenses.

Gann is being held in the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a $1,510,000 bond. He faces second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and reckless endangerment charges.

He is set to be in court on June 24.

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