Amwell Township man arrested on attempted homicide charges
An Amwell Township man was arrested Thursday in connection with a Mount Pleasant shooting that occurred last month.
Jacob Alexander Loar, 26, is charged by Mount Pleasant police with two charges of attempted homicide, as well as additional felonies of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children.
According to the criminal complaint, at about 3:30 a.m. Feb. 25, Loar was at a bonfire in the 300 block of Lynn Portal Road. Court documents accuse him of firing multiple shots from a 9mm handgun at a vehicle being driven by Dakoda Smith. Police said there was also a 14-year-old in the car.
Witnesses said Loar used the grip of the handgun to smash the front driver’s side window. The alleged victims told police Loar pointed the gun directly at them, and that they heard the gun fire.
Smith was able to flee the scene. Court records state that Loar continued firing shots at the car.
No one was injured.
According to the complaint, Loar fled before police arrived. Investigators found 13 bullet casings. On March 5, police served a search warrant at Loar’s home in the 200 block of Carey Way and recovered a 9mm handgun.
Loar also faces misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment.
Loar was arraigned Thursday afternoon before District Judge James Saieva, who sent him to the Washington County jail on $75,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. March 21.