A disturbing incident unfolded at a GetGo gas station in Salem Township, where Reno Roberts, age 26, was arrested after he allegedly attacked two individuals with an aluminum baseball bat. The violent altercation occurred last Thursday, as reported by WTAE. After a verbal confrontation escalated into punches being thrown, Roberts is said to have grabbed the bat from his vehicle before assaulting both victims. Roberts, from Murrysville, is facing two counts each of aggravated assault and simple assault and was denied bail.
According to a criminal complaint, one of the victims sustained blows to the back of the head and their back, requiring hospitalization at Forbes Hospital for treatment. The second victim also suffered hits to the back before escaping the scene and finding refuge in a vehicle accompanied by their mother. TribLive noted that the incident involved a former partner of Roberts and their new companion.
State police were active in the search for Roberts over the following days, resulting in his surrender yesterday afternoon after a public plea for assistance. Trooper Steve Limani described the attack, stating, "It’s a shame that somebody would participate in this type of activity, it’s disgusting, it’s not tolerated and it’s against the law." Furthermore, "When you’re using that type of verbiage, it’s a form of hate," he elaborated, in reference to the derogatory and threatening messages that Roberts later sent to one of the victims, who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, as mentioned by TribLive.
Roberts's arrest followed a period of intensive investigations by authorities, including an unsuccessful attempt to locate him at a Murrysville home, which did turn up a green car with a baseball bat in the backseat. The car was seized as potential evidence. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 28. In the meantime, Roberts remains in custody at the Westmoreland County Prison. As of now, his attorney has not responded to messages seeking comment on the case.
