Crime & Safety

Man Allegedly Threatened Bridgeville Councilman With Shotgun

Police say a Bridgeville man threatened to shoot Council President Nino Petrocelli with a shotgun during an argument in their neighborhood.

A Bridgeville man allegedly threatened to shoot the with a shotgun during an argument in their neighborhood, according to court documents.

said 41-year-old Christopher McElroy got into an argument with Council President Nino Petrocelli Sr. on May 30 and threatened to “put a bullet in his head.”

According to the criminal complaint support his arrest, McElroy began making threatening comments to Petrocelli because he walked his dog on his front lawn. When police called McElroy to discuss the situation, he became angry and made increasingly threatening comments to the officer, according to the complaint.

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That’s when McElroy ended his phone conversation and got a gun, police said. Petrocelli retreated into his home and told officers McElroy was at the front door with a gun.

Police officers from Bridgeville, and South Fayette rushed to Missouri Avenue and found McElroy inside his own home. They said he smelled of alcohol when they arrested him and found two weapons inside the residence.

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Bridgeville police Chief Chad King said a search of the property the following day found two more guns.

He was charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, terrorist threats, disorderly conduct, stalking, trespassing and public drunkenness. He waived all the charges to trial before his June 4 preliminary with , and is free from the Allegheny County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Petrocelli cut his elbow while hiding in his home, but declined medical treatment at the scene, police said.

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