Canonsburg man charged with attempted homicide
A Canonsburg man was arrested Monday after allegedly attempting to kill two people in Connellsville earlier this year after a gun sale went south.
Gavin Kover, 21, was one of two men who court records say fired at Ian Younkin and Antonio Pedrosa Feb. 9 during negotiations over a gun purchase on the 200 block of Lincoln Avenue.
Younkin, who was attempting to buy four guns with Pedrosa, was shot twice in the head, the complaint said. Pedrosa drove him to Penn Highlands Hospital before he was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.
Police said Kover was one of two shooters.
Pedrosa told investigators he had been communicating over Snapchat with someone — identified in the complaint only as “Rackzzz” — to buy the guns, which had a combined price of $800.
Rackzzz told the buyers the meeting would need to be later in the day, because he had school, according to court paperwork.
After arriving in a red sedan with at least two others around 10 p.m., Rackzzz got into Pedrosa and Younkin’s car, the complaint said. Pedrosa told police he paid Rackzzz $400 upfront, after which point someone who arrived with Rackzzz handed him a bag with guns inside.
When Pedrosa told Rackzzz the bag seemed too light, Rackzzz told one of his associates outside the car he was “gonna have to use the 9,” the complaint said.
Pedrosa had begun to drive away when Kover and another person opened fire on the vehicle, hitting Younkin, according to court records.
Rackzzz was able to escape the car by kicking out the rear window, Pedrosa told police.
Investigators later confirmed Rackzzz’s identity by matching him to a picture of him walking into Charleroi High School earlier in the day, the complaint said. He was wearing black New Balance sneakers, which police said matched ones found near the scene.
Police said the red sedan in which Rackzzz’ group arrived was a 2015 Hyundai Sonata registered to two owners, including Kover’s mother.
Cellphone records obtained in a search warrant showed Kover was in the area of Lincoln Avenue in Connellsville at the time of the shooting, the complaint said.
Charges have yet to be filed against the other alleged co-conspirators in the case.
Kover is charged with the attempted homicide of Younkin and Pedrosa, as well as conspiracy charges to commit homicide, robbery, aggravated assault, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.
He is being held without bond in the Fayette County jail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 23.