Mukhtar Ahmed had dropped off his teenage daughter at school and was driving on Interstate 71 in Louisville, Kentucky, when he was shot multiple times through the passenger door of his vehicle on Thursday.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. The alleged shooter, Christopher L McCullum, was found three hours later, arrested, and charged with murder.
Local police said there was no indication of a business dispute or apparent connection between the individuals, and the incident only appeared to be "some sort of road rage incident".
"As an Asian-American Muslim community living in America at this time, the community is very sensitive and apprehensive," Khalid Kahloon, Ahmed's family attorney, told NBC News.
Ahmed was married with three young children and working with his brother in a grocery retail business. Police have yet to find a motive behind the murder.
McCullum had a history of mental illness and substance abuse and was involved in a series of legal run-ins, according to records.