Authorities: Man in custody after Acosta shooting | Crime

ACOSTA, Pa. – A convicted felon faces aggravated assault charges after he allegedly shot and wounded an Acosta man with a shotgun on Friday.

Somerset County police officials said Jonathan Kearns, a former Sipesville man with a registered address in Allegheny County, forced his way into the Jenner Township apartment, woke up the residents inside and ordered a man to sit in a chair before shooting him in the stomach.

The injured man was hit by rubber bullets from a shotgun and was in stable condition Saturday, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening, Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar said.

The incident occurred at least in part because Kearns was worried about “money,” Metzgar said.

Citing a police affidavit, Metzgar said Kearns allegedly drove to the scene in a Chevrolet pickup truck and forced his way in through a secured entrance. He walked into the area where a couple was sleeping and began making demands.

Metzgar said the injured man, a man in his 30s, was taken to a hospital for treatment and had “BBs” removed from his body. Metzgar's office is still investigating what type of grenade or object was fired.

The investigation into the incident was still ongoing Saturday and further charges could be filed, she said.

Kearns was arrested within two hours of the shooting, Metzgar said. He was being held at the Somerset County Jail on Saturday, a jail lieutenant confirmed.

Due to his criminal past, Kearns is also charged with simple assault and prohibited possession of weapons.

According to court records, he was sentenced in 2019 to 26 to 59 months in prison related to meth charges in a Lincoln Township case. He also pleaded guilty to charges related to an unrelated drunken pursuit that resulted in a crash in which he allegedly tried to flee from a police officer in 2017.