Tatiana Divina Peterson, 38, of Tobyhanna is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on December 5 in Monroe County Court, more than five months after allegedly shooting a driver in the forehead during a highway road rage incident.

Peterson has been held without bail at Monroe County Prison since her June 10 arrest for firing multiple shots into Michael Stewart’s pickup truck on Interstate 380 North near Exit 8 in Coolbaugh Township. Stewart survived and was treated and released from Geisinger Community Medical Center the same day.

Court records show Peterson recently retained private defense attorney Robert Allen Saurman of Stroudsburg on November 19. The case is assigned to Judge Stephen M. Higgins.

The Shooting

Around 11:30 a.m. on June 10, Peterson was driving a black 2019 Hyundai Tucson registered to her sister when she appeared to exit at Exit 8, then abruptly veered back onto the interstate and accelerated to catch Stewart’s black Ford pickup.

Dash camera footage captured Peterson pulling alongside Stewart and extending her left arm out the window with a silver handgun. She fired at least three shots while both vehicles were moving at highway speed, with a witness watching from behind.

One bullet struck Stewart in the forehead. Despite the head wound, he pulled safely onto the shoulder and called 911. Police found three bullet holes in his truck.

Quick Confession

Using dash camera footage, traffic surveillance from Route 33 and Route 611, and witness accounts, state police tracked the Tucson’s license plate within hours. Records showed the same vehicle with Peterson driving had been involved in a similar road rage incident in January 2024, though details of that encounter remain unavailable.

When police contacted Peterson and invited her to the Stroudsburg barracks for an interview, she agreed. Peterson admitted to shooting at Stewart and told investigators the Bersa Thunder .380 ACP pistol was in a dresser drawer in her bedroom, where police recovered it.

The Charges

Peterson faces six criminal charges:

• Criminal Attempt — Criminal Homicide (First-degree felony)
• Aggravated Assault (First-degree felony)
• Terroristic Threats (First-degree misdemeanor)
• Propelling Missiles Into Occupied Vehicles (First-degree misdemeanor)
• Recklessly Endangering Another Person (Second-degree misdemeanor)
• Reckless Driving (Summary offense)

Magisterial District Judge Jamie Levy denied bail on June 11, citing the severity of the charges and public safety concerns.

What’s Next

The December 5 pre-trial conference will determine whether the case heads toward trial or plea agreement. Given the overwhelming evidence — dash camera footage, surveillance video, witness testimony, and Peterson’s confession — a plea deal may be likely.

If convicted on attempted criminal homicide alone, Peterson faces 20 to 40 years in state prison. Assistant DA Michael T. Rakaczewski is prosecuting the case, which has proceeded through standard pre-trial procedures since August.

The case highlights how quickly road rage can escalate from aggressive driving to life-threatening violence. Peterson has now spent more than 160 days behind bars awaiting resolution.

Peterson’s next court appearance is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on December 5, 2025, before Judge Stephen M. Higgins in Monroe County Court of Common Pleas.