PA State Trooper Pleads Guilty To Chester Co. Road Rage Shooting: DA

WEST CHESTER, PA — A Pennsylvania State Trooper pleaded guilty this week to a road rage shooting in Chester County, but will avoid time behind bars.

David Levy, 36, of Kennett Square, was sentenced by Judge Allison Bell Royer to two years probation and an anger management class.

Levy's sentence does not explicitly forbid him from working again as an officer, though officials said this was expected to be the result of the case.

"It is anticipated that (Levy) will no longer be a member of law enforcement because Pennsylvania law prevents people convicted of serious misdemeanor offenses from serving as police officers," Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe.

In a statement to Patch, Pennsylvania State Police said that Levy, who has been suspended without pay, would be terminated from his current position.

The incident occurred back on Dec. 28, 2022 on Route 1 near Longwood Gardens.

Levy had been drinking at tavern in Aston before hitting the road, police said.

He became upset with how the victim was driving in front of him and began "interacting aggressively" with the victim, who was driving with their family. He eventually forced the victim's vehicle off the road, police said.

“After he dangerously forced a car off the road, he used his badge and his gun to frighten and intimidate a family on their way to see the holiday lights at Longwood Gardens," the district attorney said in a statement at the time of Levy's arrest.

As the victim drove off the ramp to Longwood Gardens, Levy drove onto the grass and blocked the lane for traffic, police said. He then activated his lights, took his weapon out, and began shouting "state police," according to authorities.

That's when Levy's weapon discharged "accidentally," police said, firing a bullet into the dashboard of his car.

When a passenger in the victim's vehicle screamed that she was calling the police and that there was a dash camera in her car, Levy fled.

Police later searched Levy’s car and found a bullet hole in the dashboard and shell casings in the center console.