GOSHEN – A 23-year-old Town of Wallkill man faces up to 25 years in state prison following his conviction in Orange County Court on Tuesday to stabbing an elderly man to death during a road rage incident.
A jury convicted Horace Duke of killing Joel Laddy of Wallkill on October 20, 2022.
Duke had been involved in a motor vehicle accident with Laddy. That turned into a verbal argument when they exited Route 17 at exit 119 and that escalated, said District Attorney David Hoovler.
“When they pulled over after the incident, Horace Duke produced a knife and plunged it 5 ½ inches into the 74-year-old gentleman’s chest, killing him,” the DA said.
into a verbal argument near exit 119 of Route 17 in Wallkill and during the course of that argument, Duke stabbed the victim once in the chest with a kitchen knife, puncturing his heart and killing him.
Duke was convicted of manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.
Hoovler said, “road rage is dangerous and can escalate into irreversible acts of violence. The loss of life in this case was both senseless and preventable. The defendant was justly held accountable for turning a petty dispute into a violent tragedy.”
Duke is expected to be sentenced in June.
