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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- The city man who shot at another man during an argument outside Andy's Bar and Grill in January 2024 was sentenced to four to 10 years' incarceration Tuesday morning.
David Jamal Adams, 41, pleaded guilty to single felony counts of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm prohibited in exchange for the state prison sentence.
Adams was initially charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault, single felony counts of possession of a firearm prohibited, firearms not to be carried without a license and discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, three misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person, two misdemeanor counts of simple assault and single misdemeanor counts of possession of a weapon and disorderly conduct.
The case was filed against Adams after he and the victim were arguing outside the bar, when Adams pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the victim. Adams and the victim continued to argue as they went inside the bar, where staff asked Adams to leave.
The argument continued outside and Adams fired a single round at the victim. The round missed and was later recovered from the sidewalk outside the bar. Officers noted the events were captured on the bar's security cameras.
Officers reported that the victim refused to cooperate with the investigation other than to confirm he had been shot at. Adams was subsequently taken into custody at a motel and was found to be on state parole.
Adams appeared via video conferencing from SCI Pine Grove for the plea and sentencing hearing in front of President Judge Wade A. Kagarise.
First Assistant District Attorney Nichole Smith told Kagarise that the negotiated guilty plea to the two felony counts would "satisfy the remaining charges."
Defense attorney Lisle Weaver said he and Adams understood that Adams' sentence would not have concurrency with the sentence handed down for his state parole violation. He told Kagarise that the case had been "ongoing for quite some time" with some pre-trial litigation in the works.
"In light of all of that, he knew he needed to accept responsibility," Weaver said.
He told Kagarise the dispute between Adams and the victim was "longstanding" and involved Adams' father. While not justifying Adams' actions, Weaver said he wanted to give Kagarise "an explanation."
"He knows this sort of lifestyle needs to be put behind him," Weaver said.
Smith then told Kagarise that the plea offer was partially made because the victim "has not been cooperative with the prosecution going back to the preliminary hearing."
When given the opportunity to speak, Adams chose to remain silent.
Kagarise ultimately accepted the plea deal and sentenced Adams to 48 to 120 months' incarceration in a state correctional facility, to be followed by 12 months' supervised reentry. He also ordered Adams to pay the cost of prosecution, $400 in fines and have no contact with the victim.
Adams' remaining charges were then withdrawn and dismissed.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.