Bond set for suspect in shooting case
REDSTONE TWP. – Bond was set at $150,000 cash Monday for a Searights man accused of shooting a Brownsville man in the leg Sunday at the Hunters Ridge apartment complex. Dayton L. Valentino, 19, of 219 Village of Searights was arraigned Monday before Magisterial District Judge Mike Defino. Valentino is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, one count of simple assault and one count of recklessly endangering another person for allegedly shooting John Isaac, 36, of Brownsville in the leg following an argument in the parking lot at Hunters Ridge Sunday morning.
State police said the incident occurred around 10:15 a.m. Sunday, with Brownsville police officer Jo Rosa the first to respond to the scene, along with the Brownsville Ambulance Service Inc. Rosa said there was only a slight delay before the ambulance could enter the potentially hazardous scene.
“I did a complete search of the area and assessed the patient immediately. From the time I was on the scene, it was less than five minutes. I needed to get him help immediately, but I had to keep myself safe and the other people in the area safe,” Rosa said.
Trooper Greg Marchewka, who is assigned to Troop B at Belle Vernon, said Isaac was being treated in the ambulance prior to being flown to UPMC by helicopter when he arrived on the scene. Marchewka said police then learned that the suspect had barricaded himself inside apartment 1907. Marchewka said the resident was not home at the time.
“The door was chained on the inside and there was a piece of furniture against the door,” Marchewka said. “We had activated the SERT Team (Special Emergency Response Team), but they never arrived on the scene. He had surrendered prior to that.”
Marchewka said Valentino remained inside the apartment for about a half hour after being discovered by the police, then he surrendered. Marchewka said the police had the apartment surrounded.
A 9mm Hi-Point semi-automatic handgun was found in the apartment, according to the affidavit filed with the charges. According to the affidavit, Valentino admitted shooting Isaac, saying he suspected the Brownsville man of stealing $700 from him.
Isaac’s condition was not available from hospital officials Monday. Marchewka said Isaac received a single gunshot wound in the right leg that entered his calf and exited through his thigh.
Valentino was lodged in the Fayette County Prison on outstanding bench warrants Sunday. He was arraigned in connection with the shooting Monday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled before Defino Nov. 15 at 1:30 p.m.