SLIPPERY ROCK — A preliminary hearing for a Portersville area man accused of shooting another man during an argument over a vehicle has been delayed while the defendant remains on suicide watch in the Butler County Prison, authorities said.

District Judge Bill O'Donnell on Wednesday continued the hearing for 70-year-old Paul J. Harper upon learning the defendant was placed in the prison's behavior modification unit earlier this week after reportedly making threats to harm himself.

Harper has been jailed since July 3 following his arrest on attempted homicide and other charges.

The defendant, according to state police, went to Christopher Galbreath's home on Route 19 in Muddy Creek Township and fired a shotgun, hitting Galbreath in the arm.

Galbreath was treated at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and later released.

Police said Harper was arrested later that night at a home in Perry Township, Lawrence County, and confessed to shooting the victim.

He told investigators that he was upset that he sold a car to Galbreath for about $5,500 around 1½ years ago, and recently saw the same car for sale on Craigslist for $30,000, court documents said.