Judge says Greensburg shooting suspect will be prosecuted as an adult

An Allegheny County man who turned 18 just one month after he was charged with the attempted murder of three people outside of a Greensburg apartment building will be tried as an adult.

A Westmoreland County judge this week rejected a defense request to transfer the criminal prosecution of Jaron Malik Haten-McCoy of Cheswick to juvenile court.

Haten-McCoy was 17 when he was charged with three counts each of attempted homicide and aggravated assault, as well as single offenses of conspiracy and illegal possession of a firearm by a minor in connection with the shooting at Eastmont Estates on June 20.

Police contend Haten-McCoy fired multiple shots as part of a confrontation in the parking lot at the Greensburg apartment complex.

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

Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani said a defense sponsored evaluation of Haten-McCoy concluded adult court was the proper venue for the prosecution.

Shook, 17, of Greensburg, is awaiting trial in adult court for attempted murder and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting. According to court records, Shook, who was 16 at the time of his arrest, is scheduled to appear before Feliciani in July for a hearing on his request to transfer the case to juvenile court.