Teen accused in Export shooting received community service in prior case

A Murrysville teenager accused of shooting of a man in Export was supposed to be at a community service detail as part of his probation for a prior drug-related charge.

As Joseph Pometto, a private attorney for Tyler Palandro, 18, of Murrysville, argued at a hearing Tuesday that his client was never accused in any prior serious offenses, District Judge Charles Conway interrupted him. He told the Pittsburgh attorney that during Palandro’s arraignment on aggravated assault and firearm complaints last week, the teen disclosed he was supposed to have been performing court-ordered community service at the time of the shooting.

District Attorney John Peck, in arguing against Palandro’s release from the county jail, told Conway that state police reported that the teen “engineered this whole shooting incident and he was the actual shooter.”

“It’s only by luck of divine intervention we’re not here on a first-degree homicide case,” Peck said. “One bullet went into the (27-year-old Monroeville man’s) chest and somehow came out of his arm, and the other bullet glanced off his head.”

Conway refused to set bond last week for three of the five co-defendants accused in the Aug. 24 shooting, including Palandro; Sandra Lee Cline, 49, of Murrysville, who allegedly drove one of two vehicles in a car chase preceding the confrontation; and Connor J. Yakoweloff, 16, of New Alexandria.

Two others who police allege had lesser roles in the shooting — Cline’s daughter, Kayla M. Grant, 27, and Reese A. Bronick, 34, of Export — were released on unsecured bond.

According to court records, the group pursued and surrounded two men when Palandro pulled out a handgun and fired multiple times. Police reported that Palandro had accused one of the victims of theft of an unspecified item.

Preliminary hearings for the four adults were continued until Sept. 24. Yakoweloff waived his case to court. Yakoweloff’s attorney, Tim Andrews, said he will file a petition to have his client tried as a juvenile.

Despite Peck’s arguments that Palandro is a danger to the community and should remain in the county lockup, Conway set Palandro’s bond at $75,000 straight cash and ordered the teen be placed on home electronic monitoring. If released, he is not permitted to contact the victim or his four co-defendants, the judge ordered.

In Palandro’s prior case, Murrysville police charged him with possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop in January.

As part of his 12-month probation without verdict sentence, Palandro was supposed to be working a community service detail.

Pometto informed Conway that Palandro lives with his father and grandfather, and it remained uncertain whether the monetary bail would be posted.

Also Tuesday, Conway ordered that Cline could be released on $150,000 unsecured bond, but she must remain on home electronic monitoring.

Peck unsuccessfully argued against Cline’s release. He said Cline was one of two drivers “who were driving around Export looking for these two victims, one of whom was shot.”

“She knew Mr. Palandro had a gun with him,” Peck said.

Yakoweloff was formally released from custody Tuesday after Judge Tim Krieger set his bond at $50,000 as he awaits trial. He also must be on home electronic monitoring.

Peck said the shooting victim was released last week from a Pittsburgh hospital.