Dover man arrested after shots fired in Route 1 road rage clash
Dover, DE — A 33-year-old Dover man is facing felony charges after police say he fired a handgun during a road rage incident that escalated into a collision on Route 1 Tuesday morning.
Delaware State Police responded around 6:30 a.m. on September 23 to reports of a shooting on Route 1 northbound, just south of South Dupont Highway. Investigators determined the confrontation began near the Roth Bridge, where a Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Joseph Novak, allegedly began tailgating a GMC Yukon Denali driven by a 64-year-old Delaware man.
Both drivers engaged in aggressive driving before the vehicles collided, damaging the rear passenger side of the Denali and the front driver’s side of the Silverado. During the encounter, Novak is accused of firing his handgun at the Denali. Troopers later observed what appeared to be bullet damage on the SUV. No one was injured.
Novak was taken into custody without incident, and troopers recovered a legally owned handgun from his vehicle. He was charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and first-degree reckless endangering. Novak was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on a $2,200 secured bond.
The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Major Crimes Unit is continuing to investigate. Witnesses are asked to contact Detective B. Timmons at 302-365-8434 or reach out through Delaware Crime Stoppers.
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Key Points
- Joseph Novak, 33, of Dover, was arrested after allegedly firing shots in a Route 1 road rage incident
- The confrontation escalated into a crash between a GMC Yukon Denali and a Chevrolet Silverado
- Novak was charged with felony firearm possession and reckless endangering, then released on bond
