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When Road Rage Goes Too Far: Rocklin Father and Son Face Murder Charges
Frank Penney • March 17, 2025
A violent
case of road rage in Rocklin ended in tragedy Saturday night, leaving a 55-year-old man dead and two suspects behind bars.
Police say they responded to multiple reports of an altercation near Whitney Ranch Parkway and Whitney Oaks Drive around 8:43 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a man lying unresponsive on the ground. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was later identified as Jeremy Styles.
As authorities investigated, their focus quickly turned to two suspects: 60-year-old Anthony Rakela and his 20-year-old son, Blake Rakela, both of Rocklin. Police arrested the pair and booked them into the South Placer County Jail on charges of murder and conspiracy. Jail records show that both are being held without bail.
While police confirmed the incident stemmed from road rage, they have yet to release details on what exactly led to the fatal confrontation.
For residents of this typically quiet neighborhood, the violence was both shocking and unsettling.
"I was dozing on the couch and my neighbor called me and said, 'What is going on? There's all kinds of yelling and fighting out here' and I said, 'I don't know.' So she goes, 'Well, there's a lot of police officers by your house.' So I came out, and that's when I found out," said Linda Koopman, who lives near the intersection where the incident occurred.
"It's off the charts for Rocklin, and to me, it's sad all the way around. It's sad for the victim and family, and it's sad for the people that did it. There's no winning in this situation, and so I just feel bad for everybody and I feel bad for Rocklin too that this happened here," said neighbor Kipp Crew.
Others in the area say reckless driving has been a growing problem, with speeding, stop sign violations, and even donuts happening near the scene of the fatal incident. While authorities continue their investigation, residents are reflecting on the dangers of escalating tensions behind the wheel.
"I think we need to think about being peacemakers, and when things start to amp up, let's try to go the reverse way and tamp it down and not add to it but try to take away from the emotion, the anger, and the build-up," said Crew.
Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant information to come forward by calling the Rocklin Police Department at 916-625-5400. As the community mourns the loss of Jeremy Styles, this tragic case serves as a reminder of how quickly road rage can spiral out of control—with devastating consequences.
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