PSP: Man shot with rubber bullets in Somerset County, one charged

SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Somerset County man is in prison after he allegedly shot another man after he got into an argument over money.

Jonathan Kearns, 42, is facing felony charges after he shot the boyfriend of a woman he was arguing with over alleged missing money, according to a criminal complaint. On Friday, Aug. 23 officers were called to a home on 2nd Street in Acosta for a report of a shooting just before 11:30 a.m.

According to the affidavit, Kearns allegedly came to the home where the victim and the victim’s girlfriend were sleeping. The victims reported that he forced himself into the bedroom through a secure door and pointed a shotgun at them. Kearns allegedly started yelling at the woman about $200 that belonged to him.

Police said that Keans pointed a shotgun at the man and told him to get up and sit in a chair beside the bed. He then allegedly pointed the gun at him and threatened him by saying, “I’ll put brains on the wall,” according to the complaint.

Kearns then yelled at the woman that she would be leaving with him before turning back to the man and shooting him in the lower left abdomen. The victim fell out of the chair and onto the floor at which time Kearns allegedly told the woman that he only shot him with a rubber bullet.

The woman said she picked up her phone to call the police and that Kearns grabbed the phone and fled. She added that she then used a roommate’s phone to call 911. The victim was transported to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center and during surgery, they removed a “notable wad containing 6 rubber bullets from his abdomen.”

Kearns is in Somerset County Prison with bail set at $10,000. He is facing felony charges of aggravated assault causing bodily injury and possession of a firearm prohibited. He is also facing misdemeanor charges of simple assault and using an offensive weapon.

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He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 4.

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