A New Stanton man armed with a loaded gun Friday assaulted two people, stole a cash register from a borough gas station and broke into a nearby home before the resident subdued him, according to state police.
One person was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.
Anthony David Gillingham Jr., 31, is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $500,000 bail on aggravated assault, robbery, burglary and related charges. Troopers believe he may have been on methamphetamine.
“Through all of this, all we had were a couple men that got a couple scrapes and bruises which is absolutely amazing,” Trooper Steve Limani said.
Police said in court papers they were called to a reported robbery at the Marathon gas station on South Center Avenue at 9:20 a.m. A gas station patron told police the armed robber demanded money from him in the parking lot. The patron ran into the convenience store and told the clerk to call 911 when the robber allegedly threw him over the counter and fled with the cash register, according to court papers.
Surveillance video showed the suspect wearing a ski mask, a black long-sleeved shirt, one black glove, jeans and black shoes, police said.
While troopers were responding to the gas station, they were diverted to a nearby Shelton Drive home where a break-in was reported.
“While he’s there, a neighbor sees this man on a porch with a cash register trying to get into the house,” Limani said.
The neighbor was punched in the face by the suspect and treated at a hospital for minor injuries, police said. Then, the suspect broke into the house through a window and was met by the resident.
“What he didn’t realize was the person inside the house was very capable of taking care of himself, was able to disarm Mr. Gillingham … and pinned him to the ground and kept him there,” Limani said.
The suspect in the break-in matched the description of the person involved with the robbery, who was identified as Gillingham. Troopers recovered the gun and the cash register.
“It was one heck of a scene and we’re very fortunate that no one really sustained any long-term injuries especially when you’re talking about a criminal that had a firearm, and it was loaded,” Limani said.
Police said Gillingham was not permitted to have a gun because of a previous felony conviction.
He did not have an attorney listed in online court papers. A July 31 preliminary hearing is set.
