Fayette County teen charged with attempted homicide
A Fayette County teen faces a charge of attempted homicide after being accused of shooting a friend in the leg.
Police were called to the Newell home of Isaiah Novak, 18, after a report of a shooting around 8:20 a.m. Tuesday, court documents stated.
The juvenile victim, who was not named in court documents, was transported by helicopter to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment of a gunshot wound to the right leg.
The youth told police he had gone to Novak’s place to “hang out.” Once inside the house, Novak first removed an unloaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol from a gun safe in the kitchen, pointed it at the juvenile’s chest, and told him “it can end like this” before pulling the trigger, the complaint said.
Novak then removed a .44 Magnum revolver and emptied the bullets, replacing one before spinning the cylinder and putting it back into the firearm, the youth told police.
After Novak pulled the trigger while pointing the gun at the wall, he pointed the gun at the juvenile, who asked Novak not to shoot him, court documents stated.
As the youth turned to run away, he heard the sound of the gun firing and felt a bullet hit him in the right leg, the complaint said.
While being interviewed at the state police barracks in Belle Vernon, Novak told police the two had been “messing around,” and that the gun went off accidentally as he was attempting to let the hammer down.
Both police and the juvenile reported a strong odor of alcohol coming from Novak, charging documents stated.
Novak is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person.
Judge Richard Kasunic denied Novak bail Tuesday for posing a threat to himself and others.
His preliminary hearing is June 8.