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Multiple gun charges filed after incident

Luke Erath
Man accused of threatening woman

Butler police arrested an Allegheny County man accused of threatening a woman Wednesday at her Greenview Gardens apartment with a stolen and loaded pistol.

No one was injured in the incident, authorities said, adding that the serial number on the gun was filed down.

Luke P. Erath, 22, of McKees Rocks, already a felon, faces five felonies including three firearms charges.

He was being held in the Butler County Prison on $50,000 bail.

Police said the 22-year-old victim called around 9:15 a.m. to report a man refusing to leave her apartment. A second caller a short time later reported the man was waving a gun and threatening the victim.

Officers went upstairs and found Erath at the top of the steps. He was ordered to put his hands up, police said.

Erath admitted to having a gun, which police allegedly found in the pocket of his hooded sweat shirt. Police seized the loaded .380-caliber pistol. The defendant also allegedly admitted that the gun did not belong to him, but would not elaborate.

The woman subsequently told police she met Erath on Facebook and “just started to date him,” according to court documents.

She said the defendant was visiting her when they got into an altercation. She accused him of waving the gun in the air, telling her, “I'm going to kill you, just ask my ex about it,” and “I'm going to smoke you.”

Erath was arraigned on felony charges of felons not to carry a firearm, possessing a firearm without a carry license, possessing a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number, receiving stolen property and aggravated assault, all of which are felonies.

He also is charged with misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats and reckless endangerment.

Court records showed that Erath has several felony convictions in Indiana and Allegheny counties, including conspiracy to commit robbery, drug possession, burglary and theft.

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