A violent altercation erupted inside a Hempfield Walmart, leading to a Greensburg man facing severe charges after assaulting another customer with a firearm. According to TribLIVE, 29-year-old Ahseim S. Pestano was captured on surveillance footage on Tuesday evening extracting a gun from his pocket and pointing it at the victim's face. Details revealed that an argument between the victim and a Walmart employee, which has been an ongoing issue, escalated when Pestano, after being notified by the employee, who is reportedly a relative, accosted the customer near the checkout area.
The situation intensified into a physical struggle where Pestano proceeded to hit the man in the face with the pistol. Although the man sustained a face wound, the report did not clarify whether he required hospitalization. In a report by WTAE, Pestano claimed in an interview with police that the customer had previously threatened to stab him, though he confirmed that there was not a knife involved during the incident.
Following the event, Pestano now faces several charges, which include aggravated assault and reckless endangerment. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, it remains unclear if Pestano had a concealed carry permit, as Walmart's policies do not permit open-carry firearms in their stores, aside from law enforcement officers. TribLIVE reported that Pestano, unable to post the $50,000 bail, is currently detained at the Westmoreland County Prison. His preliminary hearing has been scheduled for December 10.
