A young airport worker heading home to his baby girl was ambushed in a split-second of road rage that nearly killed him — and the man police say pulled the trigger is now behind bars.
He honked his horn. That’s all he did.
McKial McCarty, 19, was heading home from his shift at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on the night of May 13 when a light-colored Chevy Equinox cut him off mid-turn at an intersection. McCarty honked. Seconds later, five bullets were tearing through his body.
According to a criminal complaint, 24-year-old Joseph Lemalie — the alleged driver of that Equinox — didn’t just drive away after the near-collision. He slowed down, pulled up alongside McCarty’s vehicle, rolled down his window, and opened fire. McCarty told investigators that Lemalie “mag dumped” — emptying all five rounds directly at him.
All five shots connected.
The bullets pierced his lungs, shattered one of his arms, and damaged his hip. McCarty, barely conscious and bleeding out, told police he “immediately thought he was dead” the moment he felt his lungs filling with blood. He managed to stop his car and stumble out, hoping someone — anyone — would call for help.
Somehow, he survived.
While recovering in the hospital, McCarty picked Lemalie out of a police lineup without hesitation. “1,000% sure,” he told detectives. Investigators tracked down Lemalie’s vehicle using traffic camera footage, locating it at a home where his family members lived. Inside, police recovered a spent 9mm shell casing — matching several more found at the shooting scene.
Lemalie was arrested and now faces four counts of assault, weapons misconduct, and reckless endangerment. A judge set his bond at $50,000. He’s currently locked up at the Anchorage Correctional Complex and is due back in court on June 4.
Meanwhile, McCarty — a father to a young daughter — has been released from the hospital. His mother and girlfriend both launched GoFundMe campaigns to help cover his medical bills and replace his totaled car.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Lemalie’s next court date is June 4. If convicted on all charges, he could face significant prison time. McCarty faces a long road to physical recovery — but told local media he’s grateful to be alive, and focused on his daughter.
A wrong turn. A honked horn. A father of one nearly bled out on an Anchorage street. And a 24-year-old now sits in a jail cell — all because someone couldn’t handle being cut off.
