A Brentwood man who pulled a gun on an Amazon delivery driver because she was blocking his driveway will serve six months on home detention followed by three years of probation.

During Brian Dengler’s sentencing Wednesday, his lawyer blamed his client’s conduct on drinking.

Dengler, 66, pleaded guilty on March 24 in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court to ethnic intimidation, terroristic threats and simple assault before Senior Judge Katherine B. Emery.

According to the criminal complaint, Linquita Schley, who worked for Amazon, was delivering a package at an apartment in the 3800 block of Brownsville Road around 3:40 p.m. on Dec. 21, 2023.

As she was walking back to her vehicle, Schley told police, she heard honking. She asked the driver to wait until she had finished her delivery.

Then, the complaint said, Schley heard a door shut, and a man approached her, saying, “‘Listen here, (racial epithet), I will kill you right here and send you with the rest of your (epithet) if you don’t move out of my way,’” the complaint said.

Dengler is white, and Schley is Black.

Dengler then took a black handgun from his jacket pocket and pointed it at Schley, police said.

A witness on scene recorded the incident on their cell phone. The video showed Schley attempt to push the gun away, and Dengler put it back in his pocket.

He then returned to his vehicle and fled in his Nissan Altima.

Police said about an hour and 15 minutes later, Dengler returned to the rear parking lot of the apartment building where police were waiting.

Dengler told police the gun was in his vehicle; it was recovered.

During an interview with police, Dengler said he pulled the gun on the driver because he wanted to go home.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Schley told the court she hurt her knee trying to dive out of the way from the gun and still can’t participate in sports.

“I’m not able to sleep at night,” Schley said. “I’m very scared. I don’t like going outside. I fear every day for my life.”

The prosecution asked for Dengler to be incarcerated. Defense attorney Jeffrey Wasak sought probation, following sentencing guidelines.

Wasak told the court that after his client’s arrest, Dengler attended anger management classes, went to rehab for alcohol abuse and continued with mental health treatment.

“This incident was fueled by excessive consumption of alcohol,” Wasak said.

Dengler cooperated with police and pleaded guilty, the lawyer noted. Wasak told the judge his client is being treated for bladder cancer and a heart condition.

Dengler spoke briefly to the court.

“I regret what I did every single day,” he said.

Dengler said he was depressed around the holidays that year and drank to excess.

That afternoon, he said, he needed to get into his apartment to use the bathroom, and the Amazon van blocked him from doing so.

“I was unable to get into my driveway, and I acted out of character, and I’m so sorry.”

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