by news-item staff
SHAMOKIN - One Shamokin man is facing multiple charges and another is in the hospital following a bizarre shooting early Sunday morning in the city.
David Edwin Latsha, 59, of 129 S. Third St., Shamokin, is facing charges of two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person for allegedly shooting Paul Kinsey at Latsha's residence.
The charges were filed by Shamokin Patrolman Shane Mowery in the office of Magisterial District Judge John Gembic, Shamokin.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Shamokin police were dispatched the residence at 4:55 a.m. Sunday from a report that shots were fired and were advised that the suspected shooter was in front of his home and the gunshot victim was still inside.
Police reportedly found Latsha in front of the house saying, "Paul is in there. I just shot him."
He was handcuffed and searched, but was carrying no weapons. However, he told police the gun he used to shoot Kinsey was still inside the home.
While Mowery and Patrolman Scott Weaver were speaking with Latsha, they said he was slurring his speech, acting jittery and using his hands and arms to make gestures as he spoke. While still in front of the house, he told police he was "seeing people" in and around his home, but officers observed no one on the premises.
Once Latsha was secured, Coal Township Patrolman Joshua Wynn and Mowery found Kinsey sitting inside the home on the stairs leading to the second floor of the home bleeding heavily from his left leg.
As the officers were assisting Kinsey to the front porch, they retrieved a large, wooden-handled kitchen knife stuffed in the waistband of Kinsey's shorts.
Kinsey was transported by AREA Services to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he was reportedly in fair condition Sunday evening.
A search of the home revealed a .35 revolver and a .22 Phoenix Arms semi-automatic pistol on the first floor and a large pool of blood in a small cluttered room in the rear of the second floor.
Police then placed Latsha in the Shamokin Police Department holding cell, where he stated that "he was seeing lights and then the lights would disappear."
Latsha reportedly told police he snorted a yellow, powdery crystal substance earlier in the evening.
He also told police that he was standing in the hallway of his home when he shot Kinsey, because he thought Kinsey had two knives in his hands.
At 7:40 a.m. Sunday, Shamokin Chief Edward Griffiths and Cpl. Darwin Tobias III interviewed Kinsey in the Geisinger emergency room where the victim told police he was in the home and saw Latsha snort "some kind of gold-colored powder."
According to court documents, "Kinsey stated that he thought his girlfriend, Wanda Ebrigh,t came to the house looking for him, so he hid in the closet in the home. Kinsey stated that he had two knives in his possession. Kinsey then jumped out of the closet to scare Latsha 'to be funny.'"
Kinsey told police that "Dave" shot him and, "It happened fast, boom."
At 10:04 a.m. Sunday, while Latsha was read his Miranda Rights prior to being questioned, he asked Mowery and Shamokin Patrolman Raymond Siko II if Paul was dead.
When Siko asked him why he would ask that question, Latsha responded, "Because I shot him." He also asked him why he would think the victim was dead, and Latsha said because of the way he was bleeding, and then uttered that Kinsey lost a lot of blood.
Siko questioned where Kinsey was losing blood, and Latsha stated from his leg.
Siko asked him if that's where he was aiming and Latsha replied, "Yes, at his leg."
Shamokin Police Department could not be reached Sunday evening to determine whether Latsha was in Northumberland County Prison or released on bail.
Mount Carmel Township Patrolman Kelly Campbell and Mount Carmel Borough Patrolman Justin Stelma assisted at the scene as well.