Jersey City man gunned down in front of family after fender bender

JERSEY CITY (WABC) -- Police are investigating a murder in New Jersey that apparently started with a fender bender and culminated in a father of two young children being gunned down in front of his home.

The minor accident happened Saturday night on Orient and Bergen avenues in Jersey City. A short time later, 36-year-old Michael Settles was fatally shot in the head.

"Life was looking so good for him," brother Jermaine Settles said. "He was just so happy about life."

Jermaine Settles still can't wrap his head around the senseless death.

"My brother got into a minor car accident here on this corner, on Orient and Bergen," he said. "And the gentleman, if you could say that, told my brother, they had some words, said that he would be back."

The Hudson County District Attorney's Office says a man who family members identified as the driver from the accident came back with an accomplice and a gun. And without much warning, the man fired several shots in front of the family, hitting Michael in the head, before taking off.

"Just said some words, and my brother responded," Jermaine said. "And the guy just pulled out the gun and just shot him."

The DA's office is investigating the accident and shooting, trying to come up with leads as to who the shooter is, but Michael's family is still in shock.

"I don't understand what escalated to that point, where this man felt like he had to come and take a big part of our family," Jermaine said. "Over a senseless act. Over a small, small incident."

The two suspects have not yet been caught yet. Anyone with information is asked to call authorities.