Reward for info on I-24 ‘road rage’ homicide increases to $20K

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The reward for information on last year’s Christmas Day road rage murder on Interstate 24 will be increased by the victim’s family, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.

The reward now sits at $20,000 for information that leads to the arrest or indictment of whoever is responsible for killing Christopher Spaunhorst.

Spaunhorst, 37, was shot on Christmas Day while driving on I-24 through East Nashville in what police believe was a case of road rage. The father of five had Christmas presents in his car and was heading home.

“Just take it second by second, I do the best I can every day to make him proud, to do what he would want me to do with our kids,” Stephanie Spaunhorst, Chris’ widow, said. “I know that he wouldn’t want me miserable so I’m trying to be happy but I will continue to seek justice for him.”

Lead Detective Will Mathis said he believes the shots that killed Chris Spaunhorst came from a black 2016-2020 Kia Optima. It’s unclear how many people were in the vehicle.

“I would ask that you consider that this could’ve happened to anyone on the roadway that day and that it could’ve even happened to you,” Mathis said, addressing whoever was in that car.

Police said several gunshots were fired into Spaunhorst’s side door and window of his vehicle, and he was found with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he died.

If you have any information on the case, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-74-CRIME.

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