A Chickamauga man has been sentenced to life in prison following a deadly road rage incident that ended in gunfire outside a Dollar General store.
Jeremy Dewayne McCrary, 44, was convicted earlier this month by a Walker County jury on multiple felony charges, including felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The charges stem from a violent encounter in March 2022 that began on Lee Clarkson Road and escalated across several miles before turning deadly.
According to authorities, the confrontation started when an SUV swerved in front of a group of motorcyclists, including McCrary, as they attempted to pass. The vehicles continued closely along Highway 341 before pulling into the parking lot of a Dollar General store in Chickamauga.
There, the situation turned physical. Investigators say McCrary engaged in a fight with the SUV’s driver, 45-year-old Danny Claire, and ultimately shot him in the chest with a 9mm handgun. Claire died at the scene.
McCrary was arrested at his home following an investigation by the Walker County Sheriff’s Office and has remained in custody since. Officials confirmed there was no indication that McCrary and Claire knew each other prior to the incident.
On June 2, 2025, McCrary was found guilty in Walker County Superior Court. He was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years, plus an additional five years for the aggravated assault conviction.