Teen accused of shooting 3 in Arnold ordered to stand trial as an adult

Two men testified Friday that they were shot when a 15-year-old Arnold boy opened fire on a group of people with an assault-style rifle following an argument involving the teen’s sister.

Ikquan Hassain Amid Lynn was ordered to stand trial on multiple counts of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and simple assault in connection with an Aug. 8 incident along the 2000 block of Kenneth Avenue in Arnold that left four people wounded, including Lynn.

Lynn is being charged as an adult.

The preliminary hearing on the charges was presided over by New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr., who at the conclusion of the hearing denied a request by Lynn’s lawyer that the teen be released on bond.

Lynn was denied bail at his arraignment before Pallone on Aug. 13 after prosecutors argued that he would be a flight risk and pose a danger to the community if he is let out of jail.

Lynn was wearing a walking boot on his left leg and needed a walker to get to the courtroom from the sheriff’s van that brought him to the hearing. He is being detained in the City Mission in Uniontown.

Pallone told Lynn’s lawyer that he could request that a judge reconsider setting bond when the teen makes an appearance in Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court.

Dion Godson-Hayden testified that he went to Kenneth Avenue after learning that there was a fight involving a female friend of his and Lynn’s sister.

Godson-Hayden said he did not know what type of gun Lynn had but said it was a “long gun” that Lynn tried to hide under a piece of fabric while standing near a group of about 10 people on the street.

Godson-Hayden testified that at one point “he (Lynn) held the gun to my face. But I didn’t pay him no mind.”

He said he was among four people trying to walk to a nearby house when he heard “gunshots start going off.”

Godson-Hayden was shot in the forearm and was taken to a hospital for treatment after the incident was reported to police shortly after 11:15 p.m.

He underwent surgery and has not been able to return to work, he said.

A second man, Lonnie Ross Jr., said he was shot when he went to his sister’s house on Kenneth Avenue after learning that there might be an altercation between her and Lynn’s sister.

Ross, who is licensed to carry a concealed gun, said he was in the house when he heard gunfire erupt outside.

He testified that he opened the front door and saw four people coming toward the house while Lynn was standing in the street with what he described as an “AR” or assault rifle.

In addition to Ross, three other people — including a 2-year-old child — were inside the house.

It had several bullet holes in the siding.

The TV, which is located in the back of the house, was shattered by three rounds, according to testimony.

Ross said he stood in the doorway of the home and “returned fire” in Lynn’s direction to give the four people heading toward him a chance to get inside.

He said he was unaware that one of his shots hit Lynn.

Ross was shot in the right hip during the exchange of gunfire.

Westmoreland County detectives said that in addition to Ross, Godson-Hayden and Lynn, a 17-year-old boy also was wounded.

Lynn’s attorney, Philip Spriestersbach, tried to get some of the charges dismissed because none of the witnesses could testify that they actually saw the teen firing the weapon.

But Pallone said the prosecution presented sufficient evidence at the hearing to warrant a trial on the charges.