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Police identify homeowner in West Pike Run home invasion shooting

2 min read

State police have identified the homeowner who shot and killed one of the men who attacked him at his Washington County home Sunday night, and charges have been filed against the second attacker.

Police said Nicholas Dziyak, 74, of 93 McGirts Road in West Pike Run Township, fatally shot Robert West, 42, of Fredericktown, after West and another man, Andrew Graseck, 18, of Carmichaels, allegedly attacked him in his yard at around 9 p.m.

Graseck was arraigned early Monday before Magisterial District Judge Gary Havelka on charges of aggravated assault, robbery, simple assault, reckless endangerment and related attempt and conspiracy charges.

According to a press release from state police in Belle Vernon, Graseck and West went to Dziyak’s home wearing masks and carrying axe handles, with the intention of assaulting and robbing him over a business dispute. The two men cut the power to Dziyak’s home and knocked on the door to lure him out, police said.

After Dziyak came outside to look around and was headed back in, police said, he was beaten about the head and face with an axe handle. He fell to the ground and fired several shots from his .40-caliber Beretta, hitting West several times, police said.

Graseck fled to a neighbor’s house and asked the occupant to call 911, police said. West was pronounced dead at the scene. According to Washington County Coroner Tim Warco, West died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Graseck is being held in the Washington County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 8 at 10 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Curtis Thompson.

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