A daylight shooting at the Crossroads Plaza in East Huntingdon has left the community in distress, as one man was hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds yesterday. The suspect, identified as Steven Henry Tris Heald, 38, from Connellsville, is now in custody facing multiple charges, including attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and stalking. According to TribLIVE, these charges come after Heald and the victim, already acquainted with one another, were involved in what was described as a non-random act of violence.
Heald reportedly fled the scene in a black truck before turning himself in at the Connellsville police station. Despite suffering several bloody cuts on his knuckles, they were not present on his current clothing when he was detained, the same source reports. The victim also identified Heald as his assailant. Although a motive has not been disclosed, a preliminary hearing for Heald is set for January 21, according to court records.
Trooper Steve Limani emphasized the grave nature of the incident, stating to WPXI, "It’s hard to believe that somebody would come and shoot another human being here outside of a very busy mall complex." A nurse and several other health professionals, who just happened to be nearby when the shooting occurred, provided critical first aid to the injured man before first responders arrived.
As reported by TribLIVE, Limani added that the efforts of these good Samaritans likely saved the man's life. "A lot of times that’s fatal and in this particular case it appears, because of all of the work that was done between the bystanders, this person is going to survive." Witnesses at the scene described a united front of quick-thinking members of the community, using towels and blankets to maintain pressure on the victim's wounds and keep him comfortable. The victim, whose name has not been released, was transported to AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville and remains in stable condition.
