Delaware County

Driver Dead After Road Rage Shooting in Delaware County

Law enforcement officials are asking for the public's help in locating a black SUV that left the scene

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Police are searching for a gunman who they say killed another driver in Delaware County in a road rage shooting prompted by the suspect's anger at the victim apparently driving too slowly.

The shooting happened on State Road (Route 1) near Meetinghouse Lane in Springfield, Pennsylvania, around 9 a.m. Wednesday. The Springfield Police Department said on Facebook that the victim was a 54-year-old man who was in his car with his wife.

Springfield Township Police Department Chief Joe Daly identified the victim as King Hua, a resident of Springfield. Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said Hua and his wife immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam and were apparently "living the American dream" before Hua was gunned down.

Witnesses told investigators that the pair were in the curb lane traveling southbound on State Road when another car being driven by a woman passed them on the shoulder of the road and stopped. That's when a man partially exited the second car and fire shots toward the victim's car, penetrating the windshield, the SPD said.

Hua, who was in the driver's seat, was struck, and his car hit a van after the shooting, Daly said. The DA's office said the victim was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

“A man lost his life today over driving his car too slow in rush-hour traffic. It’s just not acceptable. It’s not acceptable here in Springfield Township and it will not be tolerated," Daly said.

A witness told NBC10 that she was in her home getting ready for work when she heard two loud pops and a crash. She said she went outside since the street is known for traffic accidents.

“I had just gone outside to make sure the person was all right and a woman had come out of her car and she was saying, ‘Help me. My husband’s dead,’” the witness said.   

The suspect left the scene in a dark-colored SUV, police said.

Law enforcement officials are asking for the public's help in locating that vehicle. There wasn’t an immediate description of the driver, the DA said.

The SPD tweeted that although the suspects left the shooting scene, “there is no current danger to the community.”

“This is Springfield Township. This kind of stuff will not be tolerated here. Our community is a very peaceful community and if you come out here to commit a crime, we’re going to find you, we’re going to arrest you, we’re going to prosecute you," Daly said. "If you flee, we’re going to aggressively pursue you, we’re going to hunt you down and we’re going to lock you up.”

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