Venetia man charged with attempted homicide
A Venetia man was arrested Tuesday by Peters Township police on charges including attempted homicide after he allegedly fired a shot at another man during a confrontation in the 400 block of East McMurray Road.
Jesse K. Bernstein, 53, of 286 Sutherland Drive, was taken into custody at gunpoint by police outside the home of Doreen Kohne at 454 E. McMurray.
Police were called to the home just before 6 p.m. for a report of a shot fired. When police arrived, officers said they saw Bernstein come around the driver’s side of a vehicle parked in the driveway. A woman on the deck of the home yelled about a gun being fired, and a man identified as Faron Bowers, 53, of Gastonville, ran. Kohne’s son, Douglas Kohne, who just arrived at the home, told police Bernstein was armed with a gun. Officers drew weapons and ordered Bernstein to lie facedown on the driveway. He complied, police said.
Douglas Kohne told police Bernstein called him and said he was coming to the house to confront Bowers. When Kohne pulled into the driveway, Bernstein was there. Kohne told police he heard a gunshot and saw Bernstein standing near a vehicle with a .380-caliber Colt in his hand. Kohne then took out his own gun and pointed it at Bernstein, police said. Kohne then took Bernstein’s weapon from him, police said, holding him at gunpoint until officers arrived.
Bowers came back to the house and told police Bernstein approached him with an expandable baton, threatening to assault him. Bowers told police he told Bernstein to put the baton down. Bernstein allegedly responded, “We can do this the easy way or hard way” before pulling out a handgun, police said. Bowers said he ran around the side of the house with Bernstein chasing him. Bowers ran up steps on the side of the house and told police he heard a gunshot and saw the flash from a muzzle. He also told police he saw Bernstein pointing the gun in his general direction. Bowers continued running and Bernstein turned back to the driveway, where he encountered Kohne, police said.
Police said they found a spent .380-caliber shell casing in pine needles near the steps. Police said a loaded 9mm handgun and the baton were found in the center console of Bernstein’s vehicle, and a knife was found in the suspect’s pants pocket.
Bernstein was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and public drunkenness. He was placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 23 before District Judge James Ellis.