Murrysville man accused in beating of 2 people with baseball bat

A person accused of beating two people with a baseball bat at a Salem gas station last week, later directing slurs at one of them, was arrested Monday afternoon, according to state police.

Both people were taken to AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville for treatment after the 10 p.m. Thursday attack at the GetGo station on Route 22, troopers said in court papers.

On Friday, police got an arrest warrant for Reno James Roberts, 26, of Murrysville, and searched for him over the next few days. Roberts surrendered Monday afternoon, a couple hours after a plea for help from the public to find him was issued by authorities.

Trooper Steve Limani said one of the people attacked previously was in a relationship with Roberts. They were with a new partner at the GetGo when Roberts got into a confrontation with the couple in the parking lot.

After arguing and throwing punches, Limani said Roberts retrieved an aluminium baseball bat from the car he was riding in and beat the two people with it. Roberts fled in a green car with his mother.

Troopers unsuccessfully tried to track Roberts down at a Murrysville home, but found a green car with a baseball bat in the backseat. Limani said the car was seized.

One of the people who was attacked reported later that Reno contacted them through Facebook Messenger and used derogatory terms for homosexual and transgender people, according to court papers.

“It’s a shame that somebody would participate in this type of activity, it’s disgusting, it’s not tolerated and it’s against the law,” Limani said.

“When you’re using that type of verbiage, it’s a form of hate,” he said. “It’s something that’s not tolerated.”

Roberts is charged with two counts each of aggravated assault and simple assault. His bail was denied. He was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. His attorney didn’t immediately respond to a message. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 28.