The suspects were arraigned after a Park Layne man was shot near a New Carlisle convenience store.
CLARK COUNTY, Ohio — Two New Carlisle men have been charged with murder after authorities said a road rage dispute ended with the fatal shooting of a 47-year-old Park Layne man near a convenience store.
Semaj D. Mack, 25, and Damian N. Debose, 29, were being held in the Clark County Jail following their arrests in connection with the death of Luke Hollifield. Both men were arraigned Thursday and are scheduled to return to court for a bond hearing July 20. The charges are allegations, and the cases have not been resolved.
Clark County sheriff’s deputies were called at about 3:20 p.m. Wednesday to the area of state Route 235 and Gerlaugh Road, near the Casey’s General Store outside New Carlisle. Deputies found Hollifield on the west side of the road with a gunshot wound to his chest, according to the sheriff’s office.
Emergency medical workers pronounced Hollifield dead at the scene. Authorities later identified him as a resident of Park Layne, a community south of New Carlisle. A woman who was traveling in Hollifield’s vehicle was not injured, Sheriff Christopher Clark told local news organizations.
Investigators said the confrontation began as a road rage dispute in New Carlisle and continued along state Route 235. Authorities have not released a detailed account of what led to the dispute, what happened immediately before the shooting or which defendant is accused of firing the shot.
Detectives identified an orange Jeep Renegade with an Iowa license plate as the vehicle sought after the shooting. The Jeep left the area and traveled south on state Route 235, the sheriff’s office said.
Dayton police later stopped the Jeep near Princeton Drive and Salem Avenue. Mack was taken into custody during the stop. Debose was identified as a second suspect as the investigation continued and later voluntarily surrendered to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said Mack and Debose were each charged with murder. One local report said additional charges could be considered as investigators continue reviewing the case. Officials had not announced any additional counts as of Friday.
The sheriff’s office has not released further information about the alleged roles of the two defendants or whether a firearm was recovered. The investigation remains active as the defendants await their July 20 bond hearing.
Author note: Last updated July 17, 2026.