WASHINGTON, Pa. — It’s been 10 months since Butler County football standout Tim McNerney was attacked and killed during an apparent strong-armed robbery here.

On Tuesday night, Washington police arrested three men in the Oct. 4 slaying.

Charged with a general count of homicide are Adam R. Hankins, 23, of Washington, Pa.; Troy L. Simmons, 23, of East Pittsburgh; and Eric D. Wells, 24, of Penn Hills, Allegheny County.

The suspects, who also are charged with robbery, conspiracy and theft, are in the Washington County Jail without bail.

Hankins and Simmons each face an additional charge of aggravated assault.

The arrests followed a “break” in the investigation in the past few weeks, Washington County District Attorney Eugene Vittone said during a news conference Tuesday.

He did not elaborate about any evidence.

Neither Vittone nor Washington police immediately returned telephone calls this morning.

A senior running back for Washington & Jefferson College, McNerney, 21, was mugged while walking home with a friend from an off-campus bar shortly before 3 a.m.

Several men jumped McNerney and his friend Zachary DeCicco, 22, of Jefferson Hills, Allegheny County, also a W&J student.

DeCicco was pummeled, his nose broken, but he managed to get away. McNerney wasn’t so lucky.

Before help could arrive, the 2009 Knoch High School graduate had been roughed up. Investigators believe at some point he was pushed or fell backward, hitting his head on the pavement.

He was barely clinging to life when college police found him just before 4 a.m., authorities said. Within an hour, he was pronounced dead at Washington Hospital.

An autopsy determined McNerney died of severe injury to the back of his head.

During the initial crime scene investigation, police determined McNerney’s wallet and cell phone were taken.

Preliminary hearings for the three defendants are set for 9:30 a.m. Aug. 14 at the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.

Hankins and Wells also are wanted on arrest warrants issued last month in connection with a drug trafficking case April 15 in Fayette County, court records show.

In a statement Tuesday, Vittone praised the work of numerous law enforcement agencies, including Washington police, state police and the Washington County Drug Task Force, in making the arrests.

“This truly was effort by all law enforcement to solve this case,” he said. “I thank all of these people for their help in solving this senseless and tragic murder.”

The college in a statement said it “welcomed (Tuesday’s) developments in the Tim McNerney case.

“The arrests made are the result of a tireless effort by the police and district attorney in the City of Washington. We thank them for their dedication to ensuring the safety of our community.

“Our thoughts continue to be with the McNerney family during this difficult time.”

McNerney was Knoch’s all-time rushing leader with 2,842 yards. He rushed for 1,785 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior in 2007, leading the Knights to the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals.

His coach at Knoch, Mike King, said his heart goes out to the McNerney family.

“It’s been a long, arduous process for them and for all of us who really cared about Tim.

“It’s hard understanding the nature of not being able to find out who did something like that.”

He added, “Nothing can replace the feeling of having Tim around, but, hopefully, people can move on and get on with their lives ... I feel good for the family.”

W&J head football coach Mike Sirianni told the Washington Observer-Reporter that the arrests will bring some relief to the McNerney family and the players who found him the night of the homicide.

“Nothing is going to bring us Tim back,” Sirianni said. “I will always love him and will never forget him.”

Eagle Sports Editor John Enrietto contributed to this report.