Two more teens charged in shooting
Active arrest warrant out for Seville, 17, in connection to incident on New Year’s Day
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Charges have been filed against two more teenagers involved in the New Year's Day shooting in Altoona, according to court documents. So far, seven teens have been charged as adults in the incident.
James William Fisher, 18, was arraigned Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio and remanded to the Blair County Prison after being unable to post $200,000 bail.
Jay Seville, 17, also faces charges in the shooting. He has an active arrest warrant and has yet to be arraigned.
Both Fisher and Seville face felony charges of criminal attempt criminal homicide, aggravated assault, discharge of a weapon into an occupied structure, criminal use of a communication facility and firearms not to be carried without a license along with misdemeanor charges of possession of a weapon, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct and a summary charge of discharge of a firearm.
The charges stem from an early morning shooting Jan. 1 on the 700 block of Fourth Street.
During the investigation, police interviewed witnesses and juveniles found at the scene, secured video surveillance, seized cell phones and a gun, collected evidence and obtained warrants for social media accounts in an effort to identify those involved in the dispute. Police also talked with Altoona Area School District police, who provided information about a small "gang war" between two distinct groups, court documents show.
The long-standing dispute led to the 3:13 a.m. shooting, the report states, with one bullet going through the window of an occupied home and a number of bullets striking other areas of the home, a garage, storage building and dumpster.
Last week, five teens were charged in the case -- Domenico Pezzuti, Eli Rodgers, Imeen Whitaker, Ezekiel Williams and Hezikiah Nathaniel Stehley. All are 16 years old, and all face a variety of charges ranging from criminal conspiracy attempted homicide and aggravated assault to discharge of a weapon, possession of a weapon and simple assault.
Four of the five were scheduled for preliminary hearings Wednesday before DeAntonio.
Rodgers, Williams and Stehley had their preliminary hearings continued, while Whitaker waived his right to a preliminary hearing and all of his charges are bound for court.
In addition, Rodgers' bail condition was changed to include an 8 p.m. curfew. He had been released on unsecured $50,000 bail.
Pezzuti posted 10% of $100,000 on Feb. 9 and was released from prison. His preliminary hearing was canceled and he is scheduled for a formal arraignment on March 22, according to online court documents.
Stehley and Williams have been behind bars since Feb. 8, with neither able to post $150,000 monetary bail.
Whitaker had previously been released on $100,000 unsecured bail.
Groups had 'beef' with one another
The charges against Fisher and Seville were filed Monday, court documents state, after additional information was received that linked the two to the shooting.
Police said all the defendants in the case are being charged as adults as a result of their actions and severity of their crimes committed on Jan. 1. Evidence suggests that this was a planned act of violence with intent to seriously injure or kill Rodgers. The evidence supports that there are two distinct groups/gangs/facets that have "beef" with one another.
This "beef" appears to have begun and/or escalated as early as December 2023, when Williams was attacked by Rodgers in the halls of the Altoona Area School District.
In addition, the report states that the investigation revealed that there were a number of juveniles involved and/or aware of the planning/intent of Williams, Stehley, Pezzuti, Whitaker, Fisher and Seville.
"The defendants made it clear in their communication that they follow Rodgers around, keep track of his location and had intentions of killing him," the report states.
Court documents also state that the communication and gloating continued after the shooting. There were a number of "rap" songs created with clear and obvious lyrics summarizing the shooting, police reported.
The communications among the defendants consisted of stealing, consuming alcohol, smoking marijuana and fighting, court documents state, adding the defendants were aware that they would be sought in connection with the shooting and made attempts to delete evidence, hide themselves and run from police.