Oct 30, 2025 By Garrett Neese 3 min read

A Fayette County man was charged with attempted homicide after he allegedly hit a woman in the head and face with a tire iron on Tuesday.

Anthony Boyer, 46, broke into the Brownsville home of Shannon Shields just before 3 a.m., state police alleged, and pushed a couch in front of the door so she could not leave.

Once inside, Boyer, of Brownsville, repeatedly struck Shields in the head and face with a tire iron, to the point where she pretended to be dead, the complaint said. Police said he continued hitting Shields in the body with the tire iron and a baseball bat.

According to court paperwork, two days prior to the alleged assault, Shields had secured a protection-from-abuse order that precluded Boyer from having contact of any kind with her or her son Devin Serrata.

Court paperwork indicated that Serrata realized his mother was being assaulted and sent a text message to Boyer’s brother telling him he needed to come to the home.

Police said Boyer also punched Lois Jacobs, who also lives at the home on Water Street, and threw a vase toward Serrata. The vase hit the wall and shattered, cutting one of Serrata’s hands, the complaint alleged.

At some point, Boyer had told Jacobs and Serrata they were free to leave, but Shields had to stay, the complaint said.

Police were summoned to the home after someone made a call to 911, and learned Boyer was hiding in a second-floor closet, the complaint indicated. He initially refused to surrender, but did so after he realized police had a Taser, according to the complaint.

As Boyer was being handcuffed, police said, they saw smoke and discovered he had set fire to pillows and other items in the closet. A search of Boyer after his arrest found a lighter and cigarettes, according to the complaint.

The fire grew rapidly, forcing troopers to pull a fire extinguisher from their car to try to tamp it down, the complaint said. The Brownsville Fire Department, which was called to the scene, was able to fully extinguish the fire.

Charging documents said after being transported to the PSP’s Belle Vernon barracks, Boyer asked an officer if Shields was dead. When told she was not, Boyer said she would be, adding “he had people in Baltimore that would make sure,” the complaint said.

Court paperwork indicated that Shields and Serrata were taken to the hospital for treatment. Information about their conditions was not immediately available.

Boyer is charged with attempted homicide; aggravated assault and attempted aggravated assault; arson, aggravated arson and arson endangering property; burglary; risking catastrophe, flight to avoid apprehension; endangering welfare of children; terroristic threats; unlawful restraint; recklessly endangering another person; simple assault; false imprisonment; criminal mischief; loitering; and dangerous burning.

Magisterial Judge Michael Defino denied bail on the grounds that Bower was a threat to himself and others.

Boyer is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 12.