Highlands student to stand trial in school bus crowbar attack in Fawn

A Highlands School District student crossed a line between self-defense and attempted homicide when he didn’t stop after disarming a younger aggressor of a crowbar, but instead used it to beat his assailant, a prosecutor argued at the student’s preliminary hearing Wednesday.

Assistant District Attorney Hillary Weaver said that’s why Russell Smith, 17, of Harrison, should stand trial on a charge of attempted homicide. Smith’s public defender, George Saba, argued Smith’s actions did not rise to that level because Smith had turned the situation around on the 14-year-old, who got the worst of it.

Judge James Hanley ordered Smith to stand trial on attempted homicide and aggravated assault charges in connection with the March 3 incident on Jolly Hill Road in Fawn. Smith was released from Allegheny County Jail on March 5 after posting $10,000 bail.

The boys are Highlands students, but attend Longmore Academy in Mars, a private school for at-risk students.

Smith appeared in Pittsburgh Municipal Court on Wednesday wearing a black shirt and pants with a tie, clean-shaven and his hair cut short. He was accompanied by his parents. His father declined to comment.

Saba declined to comment on behalf of his client after the hearing.

The 14-year-old remains in critical condition at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, county Detective Darren Gerlach said. While he is expected to survive and has brain activity, the boy has a brain injury and his long-term prognosis is unknown, Gerlach said.

He had previously been in a coma and was on a breathing tube, Gerlach testified.

Allegheny County Detective Thomas Foley testified he interviewed Smith with his father present at county police headquarters after Smith was released from Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, where he was taken after complaining of a leg injury.

Foley said an argument broke out between Smith and several other students on the bus. It escalated and Smith, who was sitting in the back of the bus, went out through the emergency exit at the first stop on Jolly Hill Road with the intent of walking home.

Foley testified Smith told him he heard someone call his name, and the 14-year-old was running toward him holding a crowbar that had been on the bus.

Smith told police the boy swung the crowbar at him several times, hitting him in the knee.

Foley said Smith took the crowbar from the boy after punching him several times.

Weaver said this moment is critical to Smith’s intent, because he had disarmed the younger boy and had an opportunity to stop.

But instead, Foley testified Smith told him he hit the boy in the midsection to knock him out, but it did not have much effect.

Smith allegedly said he then hit the boy in the forehead with the flat end of the crowbar, knocking him down. He then allegedly turned the crowbar around, hitting the boy on the top of his head.

Foley said Smith claimed to have blacked out. Smith said when he came to, he found himself standing over the victim, at which point he dropped the crowbar and continued to walk toward home, the detective testified.

Gerlach testified that police found the crowbar and a pool of blood on the road by the school bus.

Harrison police Officer Chris Cottone testified that township police know Smith and where he lives. Cottone said he was looking for Smith when he saw a male walking on a muddy hillside near Alter Road.

Cottone said he yelled at Smith, identified himself as police and told him to stop. He said Smith initially turned and looked at him before continuing to walk away.

Cottone testified he continued screaming at Smith, and after another 10 to 15 steps he stopped, turned around, put his hands up and got on his knees.

Cottone said when he walked up to Smith, Smith said, “I just did a homicide. It was me.”

“He kept apologizing to me,” Cottone testified.

Cottone testified Smith told him he had been hurt in the leg, but could not say which one. He testified he did not see any injury to Smith.

Smith’s formal arraignment is scheduled for April 28.