Jury selected for trial in the shooting death of a Pittsburgh man
A jury was selected Wednesday for a trial in the homicide case against a Butler Township man charged in the shooting death of a Pittsburgh man last year.
Nathan D. Michael, 29, is scheduled to stand trial in Butler County Common Pleas Court starting Monday for the June 24, 2024, death of Joseph Derenzo, who was 38.
A man later identified as Michael called Butler County 911 to report the shooting in his home in the 100 block of Spooner Drive just before 10:30 p.m., according to township police.
Michael initially told dispatchers he shot an armed man who broke into his house, but his statements changed, according to an affidavit.
Michael then told the dispatcher he knew the man — who later was identified as Derenzo — and said they’d had an argument that escalated and he shot the man, the affidavit states.
He went on to say he was no longer armed, he put his gun on a table in the garage and there was a second gun on a toolbox, according to the affidavit.
More information was gathered, indicating Michael shot Derenzo five to six times in the chest at close range, according to the affidavit.
The Butler County coroner’s office later confirmed Derenzo sustained at least three gunshot wounds to his upper chest, lower right abdomen and elbow, police said.
The dispatcher asked if Derenzo was breathing, and Michael said he didn’t think so. He said there were drugs on the floor next to Derenzo. Michael ended the call when police arrived, the affidavit states.
Officers detained Michael and two other people who were in the home after finding Derenzo lying face down on the garage floor. A semiautomatic handgun was found on a table in the garage, an AR-15 style rifle was found in a toolbox and at least two fired bullets were found on the garage floor, according to the affidavit.
The investigating officers noted Butler City police provided reports saying Derenzo had been treated for a gunshot wound May 10 at Butler Memorial Hospital and said state police had information Michael was the suspected shooter, the affidavit states.
During an interview at the police station, Michael said Derenzo was a “pedophile” and was “tweaking and deserved to be shot,” according to the affidavit.
Other statements attributed to Michael in the affidavit include the following:
- Derenzo arrived agitated and tweaking;
- Derenzo previously had pulled a gun on him;
- The two men fought and Derenzo shot himself in the shoulder;
- Derenzo was trying to get into his house, and Michael told him to leave;
- He heard Derenzo racking his rifle, entered the garage and saw Derenzo going for the rifle;
- Michael pulled his firearm, Derenzo reached for his waistband and Michael shot him five to six times in the chest.
The two other people police detained said they were in an upstairs bedroom using their phones and watching TV when they heard gunshots, but denied hearing an argument before the gunshots. One of them said Michael was agitated and argued with the other person several times, according to the affidavit.
Assistant district attorney Robert Zanella is prosecuting the case. Michael’s attorney is R. Anthony Deluca. Michael is being held in Butler County Prison without bail.
