Prosecutors say jealousy led woman to attempt to kill her Penn Township roommate

A woman’s jealousy over her roommate’s romantic interests led her to attempt to kill him more than three years ago in Penn Township, a Westmoreland County prosecutor said Thursday.

Leah Hope Gillis, 36, now of North Versailles, Allegheny County, is on trial on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment in connection with the Aug. 2, 2022, shooting of Erik Allison.

Prosecutors contend Gillis fired one round from a shotgun through a glass window and door that struck Allison in the neck and shoulder.

Allison, 35, testified that he and Gillis were not romantically linked. He said that after she prodded him to confess his romantic relationship with a co-worker, Gillis became enraged. She then walked into their home, grabbed a loaded shotgun, and pointed the weapon at him.

“I stepped up on the deck and got shot through the door. Initially, I thought something blew up. My chest was hot and I felt sad and confused. Leah walked in front of me dragging the gun on the floor,” Allison testified.

Penn Township patrolman Lewis Lock was the first police officer on the scene. He described Allison’s injuries as “gruesome.” He told jurors he did not believe Allison would survive his injuries.

In his opening statement to the jury, defense attorney Brian Aston said Gillis’ intent was the issue to be resolved at trial, but did not outline the defense theory of the case.

During his cross examination of Allison, Aston questioned the roommates’ living conditions and relationship.

Allison testified he and Gillis shared a bedroom where they slept in separate beds. They never had any intimacy, he said.

He told jurors he became involved with, and is now engaged to a woman he met at work and who had been socializing with he and Gillis nightly before the shooting.

Aston also asked jurors to consider whether the gun used in the shooting potentially misfired.

Matthew Pergar, a Pennsylvania State Police ballistics expert, testified the 12-gauge shotgun routinely misfired when dropped or was struck. He said the weapon was prone to fire if any pressure was applied to the trigger or the gun after the hammer was retracted.

Aston did not say whether Gillis will testify when the trial reconvenes Friday.

Jurors did hear from Gillis through a recorded statement she gave police following the shooting.

In that interview, Gillis admitted she was jealous of Allison’s new relationship and was upset that he had denied her sex the previous two nights.

She said she held the weapon when it fired, claimed she felt threatened by Allison during their argument but said she could not explain how it discharged.

“There is no way I pulled that … trigger,” Gillis told police.