A road-rage dispute on Highway 65 ended in the shooting death of 36-year-old Cody Maples outside the Bee Creek Apartments in Branson, Missouri, on the night of March 14, 2026. The incident began as a traffic conflict that continued to the apartment complex where both men involved lived. Maples’ girlfriend, who was a passenger in his truck, told investigators a black van had been driving erratically behind them, passed their truck, pulled in front and braked abruptly, forcing Maples to stop.

Witnesses say the van’s driver, identified as Michael Froman, got out and began shouting. When Maples exited his truck to confront Froman, he was shot multiple times. A neighbor reported hearing three pops and found Maples on the ground; deputies recovered several empty shell casings and pronounced him deceased at the scene. Authorities located Froman at a Springfield hospital with a gunshot wound to his hand that investigators believe was self-inflicted.

Froman was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action and is being held in the Taney County Jail without bond. Froman told investigators Maples’ truck had been flashing its lights and following him closely but declined further comment without a lawyer.

Did anyone in the Branson area see the vehicles or the confrontation that night who hasn’t spoken to investigators?