Police: Westmoreland County Community College student arrested after attacking teacher
An adult student was arrested at Westmoreland County Community College’s Mt. Pleasant campus on Tuesday, after state police say he tried to stab a teacher with a screwdriver.
State police responded to WCCC’s Advanced Technology Center in East Huntingdon shortly after 2:30 p.m. for a report of an assault. When they arrived, they took David E. Ross, 24, of Greensburg, into custody without incident.
The instructor told police he was helping Ross with air duct work, when Ross allegedly lunged across the table separating them with a flat-head screwdriver.
The instructor sustained minor injuries, police said.
The campus was briefly placed into lockdown, which was lifted in the afternoon, according to a notification on WCCC’s website.
Ross was taken to the Greensburg barracks to await charges and arraignment, police said. He is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment, according to court documents. He was jailed by District Judge Jason Buczak on $50,000 bond.
No other students or staff were injured. WCCC officials sent a notification to all students, stating that if they need to speak with a counselor, they can email VPenrollmentmanagement@westmoreland.edu.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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