Pennsylvania State Police allege a Philadelphia man fired a blank round from a starter pistol at a car Monday night on I-95 in Bristol Township during an apparent road rage incident.
William Henderson, 18, of Philadelphia, is charged with possession of an instrument of a crime, simple assault, reckless endangering and harassment.
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According to state police, Henderson became angry after a car driven by an adult male and with his 2-year-old daughter in the back cut him off around 9 p.m. Court papers cite the driver as telling them the maneuver was “accidental.”
Henderson, in his silver Mercury Grand Marquis, pulled up next to the car and leveled what looked like a handgun before firing the blank round, state police said.
The driver slowed and checked on his daughter. Realizing no one was injured, the man followed Henderson and relayed identifying information to a police dispatcher.
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Following the incident, a flash was put out to surrounding police agencies.
Philadelphia police found the Grand Marquis and Henderson at Academy Road and Frankford Avenue.
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The man who the starter pistol was fired at told state police he was in fear of the safety of him and his daughter, according to court papers.
Investigators found the starter pistol in the Grand Marquis, and Henderson later admitted to firing the weapon because he was angry about getting cut off.
Henderson was arraigned before District Judge John Waltman and sent to county prison on 10 percent of $10,000.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
