Trial begins for Columbus man accused of killing George Jensen in I-76 road rage shooting

Bryce Buyakie, Akron Beacon Journal
Updated ·1 min read
Norton detective Ryan Connell speaks June 6, 2023, in Barberton Municipal Court as assistant prosecutor Michelle Banbury and defendant Dacarrei Tovon Kinard, upper left video screen, listen.
Norton detective Ryan Connell speaks June 6, 2023, in Barberton Municipal Court as assistant prosecutor Michelle Banbury and defendant Dacarrei Tovon Kinard, upper left video screen, listen.
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Opening arguments: 'The driver was slumped': Witness recalls shooting in deadly I-76 road rage incident

A 31-year-old Columbus man accused of killing George Jensen, 40, last year in a road rage shooting on I-76 in Norton will go on trial Thursday with jury selection starting in the morning.

Dacarrei Kinard faces two counts of murder and one count of felonious assault, discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, all felonies, according to court documents. He also has multiple firearm and drive-by specifications that could result in additional prison time if found guilty.

A police officer approaches the bullet-riddled car of George Jensen on May 17 along I-76 in a still image from body camera footage released by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
A police officer approaches the bullet-riddled car of George Jensen on May 17 along I-76 in a still image from body camera footage released by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

I-76 shooting: 'It wasn't right what happened to him,' wife said of Akron man killed in road rage shooting

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Kathryn Michael denied a motion to continue the trial submitted by Nathan Ray, who represents Kinard.

Ray argued that new evidence was available from the Norton Police Department but prosecutors did not notify Kindard of the discovery until six days before the trial.

Jurors went to the scene of the shooting and crash in Norton Thursday afternoon and will return in the morning for openings from prosecuting and defense attorneys starting at 9 a.m.

Norton police search the eastbound section of Interstate 76 Wednesday night, May 17, 2023.
Norton police search the eastbound section of Interstate 76 Wednesday night, May 17, 2023.

I-76 fatal shooting

A photo of George "Geo" Jensen, who was shot and killed Wednesday on I-76 in Norton.
A photo of George "Geo" Jensen, who was shot and killed Wednesday on I-76 in Norton.

The shooting occurred around 5:30 p.m. on May 17 last year when Jensen was shot in an apparent road rage incident, Norton police said.

Kinard allegedly fired multiple gunshots toward Jensen's car as it drove past. Jensen was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m.

Following the shooting, Allison Jensen waited for hours for news of her husband when at 10 p.m., she learned he had died.

Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Dacarrei Kinard on trial in fatal road rage shooting of George Jensen