New Kensington man arrested following evacuation of apartment building where he lives

A gunshot and the discovery of what appeared to be two grenades led to the evacuation of a New Kensington apartment building Thursday night.

The incident began shortly before 9:30 p.m. with an altercation at Valley Royal Court, an apartment complex along Fifth Avenue, that led to a man firing a “warning shot” and running back to his apartment in the Kensington Arms apartments on 11th Street, said New Kensington Police Chief Robert Deringer.

Police identified the man who fired the shot as Kailia Kyseim Jones, 28, of New Kensington.

They say he fired the shot into the air during the altercation with another man. He then ran to his apartment in Kensington Arms and called 911, said Deringer.

There were no injuries in the incident but, when police went to Kensington Arms to speak with Jones, Deringer said a sweep of his apartment turned up what appeared to be two hand grenades.

The discovery forced officers to retreat from the apartment and led to authorities evacuating the building.

Some residents were housed at New Kensington City Hall, Deringer said. The state police’s explosive ordnance disposal unit examined the grenades and determined them to be inert, Deringer said, and residents were allowed to return to their apartments.

Police arrested Jones and charged him with reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness, according to online court records.

On Friday morning, New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. set a $50,000 cash bond for Jones, which he was unable to post, according to court records. Jones was taken to the Westmoreland County jail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 23.

Police did not identify the other man involved in the altercation. It was unknown whether he will face charges.