Eastmont Estates shooting suspects seeks transfer of attempted murder case to juvenile court

A Cheswick man who turned 18 a month after he was charged last year with the attempted murder of three people during a shooting outside of a Greensburg apartment building contends he should be prosecuted as a juvenile.

The lawyer for Jaron Malik Haten-McCoy filed court documents Tuesday that argue adult court is not the proper venue for the criminal case.

Defense attorney Patricia Elliott-Rentler in her court motion wrote it is in the public’s best interest to treat Haten-McCoy as a juvenile and that he “is in need of a program of supervision, care and rehabilitation.”

Haten-McCoy, was 17 and one month shy of his 18th birthday, when he was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault and conspiracy.

Police contend Haten-McCoy fired multiple shots as part of a confrontation with three people as they attempted to enter their Eastmont Estates apartment last June 20.

A 16-year-old boy was injured in the shooting.

According to court records, Issac C. Morton, 20, of Greensburg; Victoria J. Wilkins, 23; and her brother, Christian Williams, were walking into an apartment building when Haten-McCoy and the other teen got out of a car in the parking lot and confronted them, police said. Wilkins later told police Haten-McCoy shot at them as Morton’s group went into the building.

According to court records, Morton and Wilkins returned fire and called 911.

Police said the 16-year-old, who accompanied Haten-McCoy, suffered wounds to his leg and hand.

Haten-McCoy’s former lawyer argued in a previous court hearing that his client acted in self-defense when he fired at Morton and Wilkins.

Morton and Wilkins were each charged with weapons offenses. Their trials are tentatively scheduled to begin in June.