Teen in Bucks County charged for shooting at driver during road rage incident on I-295.

A recent incident of road rage on Interstate 295 has led to significant legal repercussions for a Levittown teenager. On June 12, 2023, Joseph Montoya, 18, was allegedly involved in a confrontation that escalated to gunfire while driving with a 16-year-old accomplice in a Subaru Forester. Authorities report that Montoya fired a shot from a handgun at another vehicle, striking it in a series of events that have drawn attention from law enforcement and the community.

Montoya was arrested on Monday and faces several serious charges, including aggravated assault and conspiracy. The situation unfolded between the Langhorne and Middletown Township exits of the highway. According to the affidavit from law enforcement, the incident began when the victim, traveling westbound just before 1 a.m., encountered two vehicles that were obstructing the roadway. After the victim attempted to signal the drivers by flashing his high beams, one of the vehicles reportedly accelerated, prompting him to maneuver past it.

The affidavit details that inside the Subaru Forester were Montoya and another teenager, both of whom were wearing ski masks. The passenger, identified as Montoya, brandished a handgun equipped with a blue laser and aimed it at the victim’s head before firing a single shot that hit the back of the victim’s vehicle. Following the incident, the victim slowed down, allowing the assailants to pass and promptly provided the vehicle’s license plate number to the Pennsylvania State Police, who then initiated a search for the Subaru.

Shortly thereafter, police located the vehicle in Bristol Township, where they apprehended the 16-year-old driver, who was found alone and operating the car without a valid driver’s license. The driver’s mother later informed authorities that he did not have permission to use her vehicle and that she awoke to find both her car and son missing.

During interviews with investigators, the younger suspect identified Montoya as the shooter, claiming that he frequently carries a firearm. He indicated that the pair had been out for a late-night drive when Montoya reacted aggressively to perceived tailgating by the victim. Following the shooting, the driver dropped Montoya off at his home in Levittown before being arrested on the return journey to Croydon.

Both Montoya and his accomplice are scheduled for a preliminary hearing in front of a district judge on June 26. Montoya remains in custody, with bail set at 10% of a 0,000 amount. The details of this case underscore the serious nature of road rage incidents and the potential for escalating violence on highways. Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of remaining calm and safe while driving to prevent similar occurrences.

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