Venetia man charged after allegedly pointing pistol at slow driver in the fast lane

A Venetia man apparently frustrated with a motorist he believed was driving too slowly, allegedly pointed a pistol at the victim Wednesday along Interstate 79 before driving off.

Brian Gust, 23, was charged with firearms not to be carried without a license, terroristic threats, simple assault and driving while operating privilege suspended or revoked.

He was arraigned by Charleroi-based Magisterial District Judge Larry Hopkins and placed in the Washington County Correctional Facility in lieu of $35,000 bond.

According to state Trooper Matthew J. Jardine, Gust was driving south on I-79 in the right lane, about two miles north of Southpointe. Joshua Scott, of Washington, Pa., was traveling south in the left lane.

At 4:22 p.m., Gust moved his vehicle from the right lane into the left lane, directly in front of Scott's vehicle.

He abruptly applied the brakes and threw his hands up. Scott gestured back and attempted to pass Gust, police said.

Gust allegedly pulled alongside Scott and pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at him before speeding away.

Soon after, state troopers stopped Gust and seized a Springfield 9 mm handgun and ammunition from his vehicle.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled 10:30 a.m. May 6 before Senior Magisterial District Judge Jay Dutton.

“We've all done enough driving to know what happens when someone is driving too slow for us, but that never justifies pulling a gun,” Jardine said. “And when you do something like that, you will get arrested.”

This is not the first time Gust has faced charges involving speeding.

In August 2011, North Strabane police charged Gust with exceeding the speed limit by 15 mph and 28 mph. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.

Chris Buckley is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-684-2642 or cbuckley@tribweb.com.