Monessen man charged with attempted homicide following Charleroi gunfight
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for a Monessen man accused of getting into a shootout in Charleroi last year.
Samuel Valle, 20, is scheduled to appear in Washington County Central Court later this month to face charges of attempted homicide and other felony counts in connection with the Sept. 2 gunfight following a house party in the borough.
Charleroi Regional police said a man told investigators that three other men demanded he turn over his handgun while at the party in the 600 block of Shady Avenue, but he refused since he had a concealed carry permit. The man felt uncomfortable about the situation, so he left the party, but was followed by the other men, who allegedly cocked their guns and told him “he did not want that smoke” before firing their weapons.
The man fired back in self-defense, but no one was struck by the gunfire. Investigators said they found bullets lodged in the interior of the house, including in the ceiling and a closet. Police said they also found 20 shell casings in the area, according to court documents.
Hours later, the man who returned fire during the incident went to Donora police to explain what had happened earlier that morning, giving the nicknames of the three men he believed followed him outside. While viewing a photo lineup, he identified two of the men – Valle and Trevian Thompson – although he was not sure if Thompson ever fired a weapon, according to court documents.
Another witness later corroborated the man’s claims, according to court documents, and identified Valle and a third man as the two shooters. The third man’s name was redacted from the criminal complaint implicating Valle in the shooting, and it’s not known if he’s been charged.
Charleroi Regional police charged Valle in October, but he was not arraigned until May 3 and is currently free on $10,000 bond. In addition to the attempted homicide charge, Valle is also facing felony counts of aggravated assault, firearms not to be carried without a license and one misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment. He is scheduled to appear for his preliminary hearing before District Judge Eric Porter at 1:30 p.m. May 28.
Thompson, who is not charged in connection with the Charleroi shooting, was later arrested following an April 19 vehicle crash in North Charleroi. While police were investigating the accident after he crashed his car into a utility pole in the 300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, investigators said they found a pistol registered to Asia Dezarn, who was charged last year with selling ghost guns after claiming numerous handguns had been stolen from her Charleroi residence. She is still awaiting trial on numerous charges.
Thompson, 19, of Charleroi, is facing felony counts of prohibited possession of a firearm and firearms not to be carried without a license. Thompson, who is free on $5,000 bond, is scheduled to appear before Porter at 11:15 a.m. today for his preliminary hearing.