‘It gives us some peace:’ Family reacts to arrest in Pa. mother’s death during road-rage incident

Manheim mother of six Julie Eberly was laid to rest Friday, the same day her family got the news they were hoping for — an arrest in the road-rage shooting that caused Eberly’s death.

“I know this won’t really change anything nor bring Julie back, but it gives us some peace to know he won’t be able to do this to anyone else,” Ryan Eberly said in a statement. “We are in the process of getting Justice for Julie.”

The family of a Julie Eberly just released this statement to @WGAL pic.twitter.com/uOGNzdo5TU

— Anne Shannon (@AnneShannonWGAL) April 2, 2021

Ryan and Julie Eberly were driving down a North Carolina highway March 25, on their way to the beach to celebrate their wedding anniversary with friends who married at the same time.

The Eberlys’ merged into an Interstate 95 lane around 11:40 a.m. and came a little close to Dejywan R. Floyd’s Chevrolet Malibu, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.

Floyd pulled up to the passenger side of the Eberlys’ GMC Yukon and fired several shots through the window, striking Julie Eberly, authorities said.

Authorities said he continued down the road and got off at an upcoming exit. Floyd was arrested Thursday — a week after Julie Eberly’s death — and charged with first-degree murder and discharging a weapon into an occupied territory.

These are additional photos from the arrest of 29 year old, Dejywan Floyd. He was picked up in North Carolina just before 1 this morning. He’s charged with first degree murder related to the road rage killing of Julie Eberly from Manheim, Lancaster County. pic.twitter.com/Su2UPPlAJp

— Katelyn Smith (@KatelynWGAL) April 1, 2021

The Eberly family’s statement said Robeson County District Attorney Matt Scott told them his office has a very strong case against Floyd, and that it is unprecedented to have someone in custody in a week.

A GoFundMe page set up in Julie Eberly’s honor has raised more than $67,000 as of Friday morning.

“We are incredibly grateful for the long hours put in by the entire Sheriff’s Office and the people of Lumberton who kept an eye out for [Floyd’s] vehicle,” Ryan Eberly said. “You are all forever in our hearts because of the prayers and care you gave to us.

Julie Eberly's mother-in-law said that it was of great comfort when Ryan Eberly, Julie’s husband, received a phone call at 5:30 a.m. the morning of her funeral letting him know that the man suspected of shooting her was in custody. https://t.co/xZEGDzm4cf

— WLOS (@WLOS_13) April 4, 2021

We also want to thank our Manheim and Lancaster Communities for their many prayers, words of sympathy, and meal offerings. We are overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support. We feel the prayers being offered on our families’ behalf are holding us up during this horrible time.”

A celebration of life will be held for Julie Eberly at 7 p.m. on April 9 at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church on Penryn Road in Manheim, her family said. The service is open to the public, and family and friends are invited to worship and share stories.