‘That’s what you get’: Former DEA agent charged in road rage shooting

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — A former agent with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency is facing charges after police in Florida said he shot another driver in a road rage incident.

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Brad Sosnowsky was arrested Wednesday and is currently in the hospital facing charges of aggravated battery and firing a weapon from a vehicle, WPTV reported.

In the arrest report, officers said that a dash camera inside Sosnowsky’s vehicle captured the entire altercation, which began when both Sosnowsky and the victim were exiting the highway. Officers said that when the victim changed lanes, Sosnowsky nearly collided with the rear of the victim’s car before accelerating rapidly. When the two drivers reached a red light, both stopped, and the victim approached Sosnowsky’s vehicle.

Sosnowsky told officers at the scene that he had acted in self-defense, saying he shot the victim because he believed he was going to be attacked. However, officers noted in the arrest report that the audio recorded inside the vehicle does not indicate that the victim ever made any threats, WPEC reported.

After shooting the victim, officers said Sosnowsky can be heard on the recording saying, “That’s what you get for trying to throw a punch to my face,” with the victim saying, “I didn’t try to throw a punch to your face.”

The victim, identified as Thomas Vanatwerp III, 67, was taken to the hospital, where police said that his heart stopped and he needed to be revived with CPR, WPBF reported. Vanatwerp was last reported in critical condition with internal bleeding and damage to his organs, police told WPBF.

Court records indicate Sosnowsky previously was sentenced to two years of probation for using his retired DEA credential to get around a security checkpoint at a Florida airport, WPTV reported.

Sosnowsky’s sister told WPBF that her brother was a “highly decorated DEA agent who served under President Bush,” and said, “If he believed his life was in danger, I’m sure that’s what he believed.”

Police said in their arrest report that no weapons were found in the victim’s vehicle.

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