Pottstown Road Rage Shooting Suspect Arrested

POTTSTOWN, PA — The suspect in a road rage shooting in Montgomery and Berks counties in September has been arrested, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced.

Christopher Cossel, 31, faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, firearms charges, and related counts.

The incident occurred on Sept. 22 on Route 100, authorities said.

Cossel was driving his blue Dodge Caravan north on Route 100 in Montgomery County that morning, according to an affidavit of probable cause. A woman and her eight-month old son were in the vehicle with Cossel.

Something caused Cossel to become aggravated with the victim, a woman who was driving a Chevrolet Malibu, as they approached the intersection with State Street, police said.

Cossel cut his vehicle in front of the Malibu, which was in the right lane. The victim nearly crashed into the concrete median in order to avoid Cossel, police said.

Both vehicles continued "at a high rate of speed" past the Farmington Avenue exit. Cossel passed the victim, cut in front of her, and starting slamming on his brakes. The victim crashed into the back of Cossel's vehicle, but they continued driving.

At the next intersection with Moyer Road, the pair were stopped at a red light. Cossel took a semi-automatic handgun out of his center console, put the gun in his pocket, got out of his vehicle, began shouting at the victim. He eventually got back in and they continued driving.

The vehicles continued to the intersection with Township Line Road in Bechtelsville, which is in Berks County. Cossel called 911 as they approached the intersection, yelling to the dispatcher: "Get somebody out here or I'll deal with this by myself!"

Police said Cossel hopped out of his vehicle here and fired at least one gunshot at the victim before driving away.

Cossel later told police that from there, he drove to his storage unit in Bally, where he scrubbed his hands in case his hands were tested for gunshot residue, police said.

A lengthy investigation resulted in Cossel being interviewed on Oct. 26. Witnesses said that Cossel was the aggressor in the conflict, according to police.

He was arraigned on Nov. 16 and bail was set at $99,000. He was then remanded to Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 30.

Image via Montgomery County District Attorney's Office