Shooting suspect denied bond
A man accused of blasting a Chicora bar patron in the chest with a sawed-off shotgun will continue to be held in Butler County Prison after a judge Tuesday denied his request for a monetary bond to be set, citing the danger he may pose to public safety.
Gary Ellenberger is accused of shooting Heath Schrecengost, 27, of Karns City on Sept. 2 in the chest with a sawed-off shotgun at Millerstown Inn. He is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and illegal offensive weapons.
Assistant District Attorney Ben Simon, responding to Ellenberger’s request, told county Judge Timothy McCune on Tuesday that he should be kept in jail because the crime he is accused of committing demonstrates a “complete indifference to human value” and equally concerning to Simon was that there was no apparent motive in the shooting and by all accounts the shooter had no previous contact with Schrecengost.
“Even if he’s put on house arrest, that monitor can be removed,” Simon said. “And we have concerns that this man can flee and hurt someone.”
At a preliminary hearing Sept. 11 when Ellenberger pleaded not guilty, he was shown surveillance video from the bar on the night of the shooting.
Like the hearing, Schrecengost’s family members also attended the bond hearing and reported that Schrecengost, who has a 7-year-old daughter, is still at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh and continues to recover. He has regained the ability to speak, family member Nichole Heller said after the hearing.
On Sept. 1, Schrecengost and his girlfriend were at the inn celebrating her 21st birthday when early Sunday morning Ellenberger reportedly left the bar, came back with a sawed-off shotgun, shot Schrecengost in the chest and then walked out. The near-fatal shot left Schrecengost in critical condition.
Police later arrested Ellenberger at his home where he appeared to have been sleeping, according to Trooper Nathan Brown, a first responder, who testified at the preliminary hearing.
