Hamilton St. Pat’s murder stemmed from road rage
HAMILTON » Howard Buckalew, the Ewing man accused of savagely beating a Hamilton man last month the same day of the township’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, flew off the handle because he didn’t like being told how to drive, multiple sources have told The Trentonian.
New details emerged Tuesday about the deadly altercation between 52-yearold Howard Buckalew and his victim, 58-year-old Jeffrey Pageau.
Pageau confronted Buckalew about speeding erratically through the township neighborhood, telling him he was going to strike playing children if he didn’t slow down, sources said.
That’s when Buckalew became enraged, exiting his vehicle and attacking the Hamilton man, sources said.
According to court documents, Buckalew is accused of tackling Pageau off a porch. Pageau landed on his head, suffering multiple skull fractures and a brain bleed. Buckalew was identified as the perpetrator by several witnesses who told cops he fled in his vehicle before they arrived, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Pageau succumbed from severe brain damage a week later, according to his obituary and a GoFundMe account set up to help his family defray funeral costs.
Buckalew is a known hot head, court records show. He was indicted, and initially pleaded not guilty, in the 1990s to an assault charge.
The Trentonian couldn’t determine the circumstances of Buckalew’s first assault charge.
He admitted to a fourthdegree assault charge before trial and was sentenced in 1991. In exchange for his guilty plea, Buckalew received no jail time and was placed on probation for three years, according to court records,
Pageau, who was known as Jeffy and Page, was described as an avid fisherman who left behind a wife and a daughter. He enjoyed gardening, golfing and hosting barbecues for family and friends.
Pageau’s wife hasn’t responded to a request for comment about the circumstances that led to her husband’s death.
The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office declined to confirm road rage was what sparked the attack.
Buckalew hasn’t been charged with murder as investigators are still putting together the pieces. He’s still locked up at the Mercer County jail in Hopewell Township as prosecutors decide whether to charge Buckalew with murder.
A spokeswoman confirmed the office plans to ask a judge to keep Buckalew locked up on the aggravated assault charge while detectives mull whether to file additional charges.
Buckalew’s first appearance is set for later this week, officials said. Trentonian reporters Penny Ray and L.A. Parker contributed to this report