National Guardsman killed in MO road rage stabbing

LEE’S SUMMIT, MO (WDAF/CNN) – A Missouri Air National Guardsman died on the side of the road after he was fatally stabbed by another driver in what police believe was a road rage incident.

Mother Kerrie Harter says she’s still struggling to understand why a man killed her 23-year-old son Cody Saturday night.

"He was so much joy to us,” Harter said. "I keep waiting for someone to tell me it's not true, that I'm going to wake up from this, but I'm not."

Witnesses told police Cody Harter was in traffic and got into an argument with another driver on the road’s shoulder.

The fight turned deadly when Harter was stabbed in the chest and collapsed on the highway.

"I can only imagine someone was upset because he wasn't going fast enough,” Kerrie Harter said.

Cody Harter’s family says good Samaritans pulled over, held the man’s hand and prayed with him while they waited for the paramedics to get there.

"My son did not die alone – even though, whoever did this, you left him out there to die alone,” Kerrie Harter said.

Cody Harter was an Air National Guardsman who served a tour of duty in Iraq. His sister Kylee says her brother had the biggest heart.

"He did not deserve this, and we don't deserve the pain that came with it,” Kylee Harter said.

Police released a photo of Cody Harter’s 2003 maroon Chevy pickup in hopes that it will jog drivers’ memories.

His family is pleading for anyone with information to come forward.

"It was senseless,” Kerrie Harter said. "If you saw anything, even if you think it was nothing, please call. They'll put the pieces together."

Police are looking at surveillance video in the area to ID the suspect or the suspect’s vehicle.

Copyright 2018 WDAF, Harter Family via CNN. All rights reserved.