Connellsville woman shot
CONNELLSVILLE – Police said a Monday night argument, allegedly about drugs, sent a 40-year-old South Prospect Street woman to the hospital with a gunshot wound to her right arm and a 20-year-old Connellsville man to jail. According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Connellsville police in District Justice Ronald Haggerty’s office, Chad Burton, 20, allegedly shot Cynthia Nicklow in the arm after Nicklow allegedly told him to “go ahead and shoot me.” Police said the shooting happened after Burton got into a fight with a juvenile male at Nicklow’s residence at 228 S. Prospect St. shortly before 9 p.m.
Nicklow was treated at Highlands Hospital while Burton was arraigned before Haggerty and placed in the Fayette County Prison in lieu of $100,000 straight cash bond.
Burton faces a preliminary hearing at a later date on charges of criminal attempt to commit homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, theft, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance and intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Police said the alleged weapon used in the shooting was recovered when Burton was arrested a short distance from South Prospect Street residence.
According to the affidavit, police were notified by Fayette County 911 that someone had been shot at the residence and that the suspect was running north toward Crawford Avenue and had a gun in his possession.
Police said Burton was found about one-half block away on the corner of South Carnegie Avenue and East Fairview Avenue. Police said when Burton was told to stand against the police car he allegedly took off running and dropped a .45-caliber Taurus pistol, the clip for the gun and two live rounds.
Police said they grabbed Burton and he allegedly resisted arrest and was forced to the ground by them as he continued to kick officers and tried to get away.
Nicklow’s husband, Mark Nicklow, told police that Burton had been in his house, got into a fight with another male and threatened to shoot him and waved the gun at Nicklow, his son and his wife.
Nicklow said that he forced Burton out of the house after he shot his wife but on the way out the door Burton grabbed a 12-guage shotgun and a .22-caliber rifle.
Cynthia Nicklow told police when she went into the kitchen Burton followed her, threatening to shoot her and when she told him to go ahead and do it, Burton fired one time striking her in the right arm.
Nicklow said that she when she saw Burton aiming she attempted to duck down as the weapon was pointed at her chest area.
Police said they found a spent .45-caliber casing in the kitchen and dining room doorway and a bullet entrance hole was found in the wall behind where Nicklow was standing.
Police said they also found $1,026 in cash and a baggie of suspected cocaine.
Police said Burton allegedly made a statement telling them that he doesn’t use cocaine and never has.
According to the affidavit, Nicklow told police that the fight at the house began over drugs.