Phila. road rage shooter will remain in psychiatric hospital for 60 days

Christian Squillaciotti, the South Philadelphia man charged in the road rage shooting of a motorist on the Schuylkill Expressway in October, will remain hospitalized pending further mental evaluation ahead of a hearing on the criminal charges scheduled for Feb. 11.

Municipal Court Judge Marsha Neifield today granted the request by David Ayers, of the district attorney's mental health unit, to extend Squillaciotti's civil commitment at Norristown State Hospital by 60 days.

Squillaciotti, 33, has been ruled competent to stand trial but requires medication to remain stable, Ayers said, without elaborating.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Lipscomb agreed to the delay, saying, "He's mentally ill, but he's competent. He needs treatment."

Squillaciotti, a 275-pound former Marine and mixed martial arts expert, was charged with attempted murder after police said he shot a New Jersey man who apparently cut him off near the Walt Whitman toll plaza.

Police say Thomas Timko, 41, of Glendora, N.J., was shot in the head Oct. 5 while driving his 8-year-old daughter Katie to her mother's house in Norristown.

Tipsters recognized Squillaciotti's gray Ford F-150 from photographs taken at the toll booths and directed police to his home in the 400 block of West Shunk St. where he was arrested. He is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering others and related offenses.

Squillaciotti, a sheet-metal worker on disablility leave because of an automobile accident last year, reportedly expressed remorse to police and identified the storm sewer where detectives found part of the dismantled .40-caliber handgun they said was used in the shooting.