UNION twp. >> A drive-by shooting that took place last weekend was allegedly the result of an ongoing family feud.
According to court papers, suspect Ronald Lee Heckrote, 64, of Pottstown, told police after they confronted him at Wawa, 1520 High St., on Tuesday that he had “shot his brother’s house up” on Saturday, Aug. 27.
Heckrote related to police that he shot at his step-brother’s residence twice with a shotgun loaded with birdshot. He stated that he wanted to scare his brother and that the two had been feuding for years. He then drove to a bridge over the Schuylkill River and threw the shotgun into the river, court documents state.
On Aug. 27 state police had been dispatched to the home on Union Street for a report of shots fired from a vehicle at the residence. When troopers arrived on the scene, they found that two residents were inside the home when the shooting took place. Neither of the residents had been struck but troopers found two empty gunshot casings on the road in front of the home. They also found was appeared to be shotgun projectile groupings on two vehicles parked outside the home, according to court papers.
The incident had been caught on the home’s video surveillance system and police released descriptions of the vehicle with surveillance photos.
Police were able to make contact with Heckrote after receiving an anonymous tip on Aug. 29 stating that Heckrote was bragging about committing the shooting.
Heckrote is now facing charges of aggravated assault, possession of firearm prohibited, discharge of a firearm into occupied structure, recklessly endangering another person and criminal mischief. Bail was set at $50,000 cash and he was remanded to Berks County Prison.
