Reward offered in search for shooting suspect
Fayette County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a Uniontown man police allege shot another man outside a Uniontown bar late Tuesday.
Uniontown police Detective Donald M. Gmitter said Magisterial District Judge Michael M. Metros issued a warrant for the arrest of Virdell Banks Jr., 28, of 355 Cleveland Ave. early Wednesday on charges including attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, illegal possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, recklessly endangering another person and two counts of simple assault.
As of Thursday, Banks remained on the run, Gmitter said.
Gmitter said that the shooting occurred around 11:30 p.m. when police received information that a man suffering a gunshot wound was outside the police station and also received information that a man suffering a stab wound was being admitted to Uniontown Hospital.
Gmitter said that police learned that both victims, later identified as Justin Fletcher, 29, of 136 Lincoln St., Uniontown, and Trenton Branch, 23, of 355 Cleveland Ave., Uniontown, were each wounded during an altercation outside J&B’s Bar near the intersection of Searight Avenue and Dunlap Street.
Fletcher, who suffered a gunshot wound to his right arm and a grazing gunshot wound to his abdomen, told police that he stepped outside the bar to talk to some friends when five men, including Banks and Branch, exited the bar and began to yell at him.
Fletcher said one of the men punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground and then several of the men began to kick him, Gmitter said.
He told police he was able to get up from the ground but noted that Banks then pulled out a handgun and began to fire shots at him, Gmitter said.
Fletcher told investigators that he ran from the scene and while fleeing he was struck by bullets in the right arm and stomach. Gmitter said he continued to run until he reached the police department.
Branch refused to cooperate with police regarding the incident, police said.
Both men are expected to recover.
Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to Banks’ arrest and conviction. All tips will remain confidential.
Anyone with information regarding Banks’ whereabouts is asked to call police at 724-430-2929 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-404-TIPS.