A violent altercation in Hempfield, Pennsylvania, ended with a man in critical condition after a hatchet attack allegedly perpetrated by his boyfriend. State police responded to a call from the Independence Health Westmoreland Hospital where the victim, whom officials have not named, was initially treated for severe lacerations caused by a hatchet. The suspect, Joseph Bair, was immediately found at the hospital, his clothing and arms drenched in blood, according to WTAE.
In a detailed account, Bair told law enforcement that after leaving a party and enduring an argument that followed a stop at a McDonald's in Greensburg, the dispute escalated once they returned to his boyfriend's home. Bair, intending to leave, was messaged to remove his second vehicle from the victim's driveway, which is where the situation turned physical. It was then, Bair asserted to authorities, that he wielded the hatchet during the confrontation. "He heard his boyfriend screaming that he was cut and noticed a laceration to his torso," officials stated, as reported by WTAE.
The injured man was subsequently flown by medical helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh due to the severity of his injuries. Court papers indicated that earlier in the evening, the victim had rammed Bair's car, spurring Bair to retrieve the hatchet. "As he swung the weapon at the other man’s Mercedes," as detailed by TribLIVE. After the incident, Bair took it upon himself to drive his boyfriend to the hospital. The victim has since been reported as stable following emergency surgery.
Currently, Bair faces charges including aggravated assault, simple assault, and harassment. He is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison without bail, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 19. As of the latest reports, Bair did not have an attorney listed in online court records. Further details on this case and the condition of the victim are expected to emerge as the investigation continues.
