Road Rage Fight Leads To Charges For Three People At Sunderland 7-Eleven

SUNDERLAND, Md. — Three Calvert County residents are facing assault and affray charges following an alleged road rage confrontation that escalated into a physical fight outside a 7-Eleven in Sunderland, according to court documents.

John Delbert Wheeler, 44, of Chesapeake Beach; Nicole Marie Ferguson, 39, of Chesapeake Beach; and Jamie Lee Burkett Sr., 49, of Prince Frederick, were each charged in Calvert County District Court in connection with the June 13 incident.

According to charging documents, Calvert County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 7-Eleven at 35 Dalrymple Road at approximately 9:35 p.m. for a report of an assault in progress. By the time deputies arrived, the suspects had already left the area.

Investigators spoke with Burkett, and two witnesses. Burkett had visible injuries, including a laceration to his right cheek and cuts to his left wrist. Burkett told deputies he had been involved in a road rage incident while driving southbound on Route 2 when a red Ford F-150 was allegedly tailgating him. According to Burkett, both vehicles pulled into the 7-Eleven parking lot, where he exited his truck and confronted the occupants of the pickup.

Court documents state a female passenger, later identified as Ferguson, exited the pickup and confronted Burkett before a fight broke out. Investigators wrote that the male driver, later identified as Wheeler, also joined the altercation. According to charging documents, video provided by witnesses allegedly showed Ferguson pushing Burkett to the ground before Wheeler ran over and punched him in the face, causing the cheek laceration. During the incident, Ferguson allegedly threw a water bottle that struck a witness in the head.

Deputies reviewed 7-Eleven surveillance footage, but investigators noted the store’s cameras did not capture the fight itself. Witnesses were able to provide a partial registration plate for the pickup involved. The following day, deputies connected the vehicle to a red Ford F-150 involved in a separate hit-and-run investigation handled by the Twin Beaches District. Investigators then identified Ferguson and Wheeler and responded to their Chesapeake Beach residence, where they located the truck matching the witness description.

According to court records, Wheeler and Ferguson told deputies they had been involved in a verbal dispute with Burkett after he abruptly exited his vehicle and began yelling at them in the parking lot. Wheeler stated he approached only after hearing Ferguson yelling and claimed he observed Burkett and Ferguson pushing one another before he intervened. Ferguson told deputies she pushed Burkett because she believed he was about to assault her after he approached with his fists balled. She also acknowledged yelling at a witness and throwing a water bottle before leaving the scene. Investigators noted Ferguson had injuries to her right palm and thumb.

Charging documents also note that Burkett’s account differed from Wheeler and Ferguson’s regarding how the confrontation began. Investigators wrote that the available video begins after the initial contact and does not capture the events leading up to the physical altercation.

Wheeler is charged with second-degree assault and affray. Ferguson faces two counts of second-degree assault and one count of affray. Burkett is charged with one count of second-degree assault for allegedly assaulting Ferguson.

Wheeler is scheduled for a trial officer scheduling hearing on Aug. 5. Ferguson is scheduled for a preliminary inquiry hearing on Aug. 3. Burkett’s preliminary inquiry hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10, according to court records.

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