Third person arrested in reported birthday party shooting
The alleged driver in a Menallen Township birthday party shooting was arrested and arraigned Wednesday night.
Zachary Michael Helisek, 18, of Smock was allegedly involved in a drug deal gone awry Tuesday that police say led to the drive-by shooting.
Two other men, Patrick Alan Dugan, 22, of Uniontown and Christian Jordan Cicconi, 21, of Smock were arrested during a traffic stop after the shooting. Cicconi and Helisek allegedly fled the traffic stop on foot. Police caught Cicconi, but remained on the lookout for Helisek.
State police allege Dugan fired shots at the home on Post Office Road in Waltersburg around 10:20 p.m. Police said there were nine adults in the house and seven children ages 6 months to 15 years old. Police said two women who were on the porch were nearly struck with bullets.
Police said Helisek was driving the car at the time of the shooting, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Helisek is charged with four counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied structure and 16 counts each of conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, according to court documents.
He was arraigned before on-call Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty Jr. on a $250,000 bond.
He remains in Fayette County Prison.