A Mount Pleasant Township man is facing a criminal homicide charge after state police say he shot and killed his uncle inside a Low Street home on Saturday. Pennsylvania State Police troopers who arrived shortly before noon reported finding the victim unresponsive in a bedroom, and prosecutors say the suspect is in custody and has been denied bail while the investigation continues.
According to CBS News Pittsburgh, the criminal complaint states that Joshua Lowry told investigators he fired a muzzleloader because he believed his uncle, Bruce Kasiewicz, was trying to kill him. Lowry said he woke to the sound of his uncle hitting his bedroom window, let him inside, then later saw Kasiewicz wearing gloves and holding a small wooden oar before grabbing the gun and firing, according to the complaint. Troopers described the weapon as a muzzleloader, a front-loaded firearm often used for hunting or historical reenactment.
What investigators say
Investigators said they did not see evidence of a fight or struggle before the shooting. The criminal complaint notes that "the physical evidence preliminarily examined did not support Lowry's statements as to the chain of events that led to him shooting the victim," according to CBS News Pittsburgh. Troopers also reported that Lowry did not attempt to provide first aid to Kasiewicz.
Scene and legal status
Troopers said they found Bruce Kasiewicz unresponsive in a bedroom, wearing blue latex gloves, with a small wooden oar lying nearby. Lowry has been charged with criminal homicide and has been denied bail, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office.
Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate, and prosecutors are reviewing the criminal complaint and forensic findings as they prepare for court. The charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the state police or the district attorney's office.
