A York County man accused of shooting into another driver’s vehicle during a road rage encounter in Lancaster County will have his case move forward after waiving his preliminary hearing.
A 42-year-old York City man charged in a road rage shooting that allegedly left a bullet lodged inside a victim’s vehicle is headed to Lancaster County Court after waiving his preliminary hearing earlier this month.
Maurice Martice Thomas waived his preliminary hearing before Judge Courtney Monson on June 4, according to court records.
Charges Stem From May Road Rage Incident
Thomas is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of carrying a firearm without a license, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, and propelling missiles into occupied vehicles.
According to investigators, the incident occurred shortly before 7 p.m. on May 21 near the intersection of Sterling Place and Bloomingdale Avenue in Manheim Township.
Police allege the victim called 911 after a driver later identified as Thomas began driving aggressively and followed him for more than a mile.
Bullet Entered Vehicle
Authorities said the victim heard a single gunshot while turning onto Bloomingdale Avenue and then saw the other vehicle speed away from the area.
After stopping, the victim discovered a bullet hole in the rear of his vehicle.
Investigators said the bullet struck and deflated the vehicle’s spare tire before traveling through the cabin and becoming lodged in the front passenger seat.
No injuries were reported.
Surveillance Footage and Witnesses Cited
Police recovered a spent shell casing from the intersection and interviewed three witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot shortly before officers arrived.
According to charging documents, residential surveillance footage allegedly showed Thomas following the victim for several blocks approximately two minutes before the 911 call was placed.
Investigators said they later identified Thomas as the suspect through his vehicle’s license plate information.
Authorities also allege Thomas did not possess a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm.
Thomas remains in Lancaster County Prison without bail as the case proceeds through the court system.
Criminal charges are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Key Points
• Maurice Martice Thomas, 42, waived his preliminary hearing in a Lancaster County road rage shooting case.
• Police allege Thomas fired a handgun into another driver’s vehicle on May 21 in Manheim Township.
• Investigators said the bullet traveled through the vehicle and lodged in the front passenger seat. Thomas remains jailed without bail.
