One Arrested After Road Rage Shooting In Norristown: Cops

NORRISTOWN, PA -- A man has been arrested after shooting a victim in a road rage incident in Norristown on Friday, police said.

The incident occurred at about 12:50 p.m. on Friday on the 1000 block of Cherry Street.

The suspect, Emilio Mark Ayala, pulled out in front the victim, a 19-year-old man, as he was driving with a woman Spruce Street coming up to Cherry Street. The victim's car stopped and Ayala got out of his car and displayed a gun towards them, according to police. This seems to be the first contact the suspect had with the victim.

The victim's car, driven by the woman, pulled off and drove to Powell Street and towards Elm Street to get away from Ayala, but they ran into the suspect again at the light at the Swede Street intersection.

They proceeded to park on the 1000 block of Cherry Street near their destination. Ayala followed them and when the victim got out of his car, he began to fight with him. According to police, the pair went to the ground fighting and at some point, Ayala drew his handgun and shot the victim in the leg. Police said three witnesses provided the same basic details to the story.

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The victim was rushed by ambulance to Suburban Hospital, and then taken Penn Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia via helicopter. He is now recovering from his wounds.

A swift investigation by Norristown police, utilizing numerous video surveillance cameras and PennDOT data, was able to identify Ayala. When they arrived at his residence on the 1700 block of Arch Street, he tried to flee from police, but got stuck in some shrubbery and was arrested, police said. He was in custody by 6 p.m. on Saturday night.

Ayala faces charges of felony aggravated assault. A preliminary hearing is forthcoming.

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