Man hurt in Derry Township shooting; suspect arrested

A man shot outside a Derry Township home early Tuesday is expected to survive and the person accused of pulling the trigger was jailed, according to state police.

Troopers said the suspect — Edward B. Hart, 57 — fired about a dozen rounds at the man at 2:30 a.m. after he requested to buy drugs from Hart.

Police talked to the wounded man at AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville. He had a gunshot wound to the buttocks, according to court papers.

Hart told the man to leave his Route 982 property after the attempt to buy drugs, according to police. Troopers said the man then set fire to various items about 40 yards away from the camper where Hart lives not far from Blairsville, according to court papers. Hart told police he grabbed a rifle after hearing a suspicious noise about 10 minutes after the request to buy drugs and saw the man still on his property.

Hart told police he fired repeatedly at the man, chasing after him with the gun and continuing to shoot after hearing him fall and groan in pain, according to court papers. Hart shot a few more times at the man’s car as he fled.

Troopers said they seized the rifle and shell casings from Hart’s home.

The wounded man told police he drove home. Troopers said they found blood in his vehicle.

Hart was arraigned Tuesday afternoon and was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $10,000 bail. He is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and simple assault.

A May 25 preliminary hearing is set. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records.