A man from Florida has been accused of first- and third-degree murder and other charges after being taken into custody following a fatal shooting on Friday at a truck stop in Upper Bern Township.
Travis J. Pugh, whose age is not available, from Jacksonville, has been charged with multiple offenses including murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, evidence tampering, disorderly conduct, and harassment.
According to state police, the shooting occurred during an argument early Friday morning at Love’s Travel Stop on Mountain Road near the Shartlesville interchange of Interstate 78. The victim, James Alexander Hilton, 40, from Southampton Township, N.J., was killed.
Police officers stated that the argument started while the victim was assisting another driver in parking his truck in the back lot at Love’s. Pugh, who was not the person being aided by the victim, became upset, leading to an altercation.
During the altercation, Pugh shot Hilton.
State police were summoned to the location at 2:48 a.m., and officers issued a notice to law enforcement within a 99-mile radius of the scene to be on the lookout for the suspect’s tractor-trailer.
Troopers from the Fogelsville station spotted the vehicle about 20 miles east of the truck stop at the I-78 New Smithville interchange in western Lehigh County. The driver was on the ramp heading westbound on the interstate. State police followed the truck. They pulled over the driver as he was exiting at the Krumsville interchange and arrested him at 3:31 a.m., Bailey said.
Pugh is being held in Berks County Prison, according to troopers.
