New Kensington man pleads guilty to drive-by shooting of high school classmate

A New Kensington man was ordered Tuesday to serve up to 14 years in prison for the attempted homicide of two occupants of a vehicle during a drive-by shooting in New Kensington.

Ernest Gary IV, 20, pleaded guilty to seven offenses including two counts of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and conspiracy in connection with the June 19, 2021, shooting in the East Ken Manor area of New Kensington.

Police said a vehicle driven by then-17-year-old Issac Weihrauch pulled alongside another vehicle parked along the curb on Haser Drive. Gary, who also was 17 at the time, fired two shots from a rear passenger side window of the parked vehicle and wounded one of its occupants who suffered a gunshot wound to his neck and shoulder, according to court records.

Prosecutors contended the two victims identified Gary and Weihrauch, high school classmates, as suspects in the shooting.

Weihrauch pleaded guilty in March to aggravated assault, attempted aggravated assault and two counts of reckless endangerment as part of a deal with prosecutors. Attempted homicide counts were dismissed as part of the plea deal, and he was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison.

On Tuesday, Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Scott Mears ordered Gary to serve six to 14 years in prison. Gary will be eligible for parole in about three years. He was given credit for time he has served in jail since his arrest in June 2021.