GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A Snellville man faces aggravated assault charges after firing gunshots at another vehicle during a road rage incident Saturday, police said.
Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson got a copy of the video that shows Snellville police surrounding Joseph Phillips, 41, at a RaceTrac on Pleasant Hill Road. He was arrested after allegedly firing two shots at another driver who he claimed wouldn’t let him merge into traffic on Lenora Church Road.
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“The suspect apparently felt like the victim didn’t allow him to merge over,” said Detective Jeff Manley of the Snellville Police Department.
After the shots were fired around 9 p.m. Saturday, the victim said he followed Phillips onto Ronald Reagan Parkway while providing location updates to 911 dispatchers. Officers said they eventually found Phillips hiding in a parking lot near Pleasant Hill Road with his vehicle lights off.
Police discovered a Taurus 9mm handgun on the passenger seat of Phillips’ Toyota Tacoma, along with marijuana.
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Manley expressed concern about the frequency of similar incidents in the Atlanta metro area.
“We have an incident at least every other day where people either firing shots or pointing guns at people,” he said.
Phillips faces charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony. He was also charged with possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.
Police advise against following suspected armed drivers. Instead, they recommend getting a license plate number and vehicle description before calling 911.
“I’m amazed that nobody was hurt, but very grateful that no one was injured,” Manley said.
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