The attorney for a 17-year-old boy charged with stabbing 20 fellow students and a security guard during a rampage at his western Pennsylvania high school has asked a judge to move the case to juvenile court or, failing that, to another county so potential jurors won't be influenced by heavy media coverage.
Defense attorney Patrick Thomassey wrote in Friday's motions that Alex Hribal, of Murrysville, is more likely to be successfully rehabilitated if the case is moved to juvenile court, where he could be incarcerated only until he's 21.
Hribal is charged as an adult in Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court, where he faces potentially decades in prison if he's convicted of 21 counts each of attempted homicide and aggravated assault for the April 9 attacks at Franklin Regional High School, about 15 miles east of Pittsburgh.
If the case isn't moved to juvenile court, Thomassey claims an impartial jury will be difficult to select due to heavy — and "prejudicial" — media coverage.
"The coverage has been prejudicial to Hribal because it has painted him with a broad brush comparing him to the Columbine Shooting defendants and other notorious actors who chose to commit violent acts at schools," Thomassey wrote.
That's true — but largely because Thomassey's defense psychologist testified at a hearing on Hribal's mental health in September that Hribal was inspired by the Columbine shootings and planned his attack for April 20 because that would have been the 15th anniversary of the Columbine massacre.
Hribal instead brought two 8-inch kitchen knives to school and indiscriminately slashed and stabbed his way through hallways before classes on April 9 — the birthday of Eric Harris, one of the Columbine shooters. Hribal couldn't attack on April 20 because school was out that day, defense psychologist Bruce Chambers testified.
Thomassey acknowledges Hribal committed the attack, but contends he was seriously mentally ill and would be better served getting treatment, which he said would be more effective and intense in a juvenile facility than a state prison. Under Pennsylvania law, Thomassey must convince a judge that juvenile court is more suited to helping Hribal, otherwise he'll be prosecuted as an adult.
District Attorney John Peck said he doubts the publicity — even involving the Columbine angle — would make it necessary to move the case to another county. He noted that six people were tried in the torture murder of a mentally disabled woman in February 2010 — including two sentenced to death — without a change of venue in a case that Peck said drew more media coverage than Hribal's.
As to the Columbine angle itself, Peck said, "It was brought into the case legitimately because it was referenced" in the defense psychologist's testimony.
Peck said he generally opposes moving the case to juvenile court, but wouldn't comment further because Thomassey made no specific arguments to which Peck could respond.
A judge did not immediately schedule hearings on Thomassey's motions.
A man is dead after he was stabbed on a West Philly street early Saturday morning.
A 60-year-old man suffered stab wounds on the 5200 block of Market Street around 12:45 a.m., according to police.
He was pronounced dead at Presbyterain Medical Center a short time later, authorities said.
No arrests have been made and police have not released a description of the suspect.
Philadelphia Police lined JFK Boulevard before sunrise Saturday, preparing for the caisson procession that brought the casket carrying fallen Officer Robert Wilson III to the Palestra at the University of Pennsylvania.
Only the drumming of the Philadelphia Police Honor Guard and the somber footsteps of hundreds of officers could be heard as the horse drawn carriage weaved through the wet West Philly streets.
The grieving began long before the public viewing began at 7 a.m. Saturday at the Palestra on South 33rd Street in University City.
"It affects everyone around the United States, especially our brothers here, our brothers and sisters in the police department," said Kevin Sexworth, a member of the Philadelphia Police Honor Guard.
Thirty-year-old Wilson, a father of two, was shot during a robbery at a GameStop at Hope Plaza Shopping Center on Lehigh Avenue in North Philadelphia last Thursday. He died from his injuries at Temple University Hospital a few hours later.
Family photos of the 8-year police veteran flashed on a video screen as mourners gathered inside the historic Ivy League gym.
The 22nd District officer's badge name and number was displayed on the Palestra's scoreboard.
Officers from across the region lined the sidewalk outside the UPenn facility, waiting for the 10 a.m. funeral services to begin.
Philadelphia Police officers and Pennsylvania State Troopers line up to enter the Palestra @NBCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/elV17L1BOK
— Dave Palmer (@dpalmer1010) March 14, 2015
Rain fell as officers stood alongside their patrol vehicles, lights flashing, on 33rd Street between Spruce and Market streets blocking traffic.
Caisson outside the @Penn Policetra in Univ. City pic.twitter.com/xNBDSPGk8V
— Jesse Gary (@JesseNBC10) March 14, 2015
The procession began on JFK Boulevard near 30th Street Station, continued west on Market Street to 34th Street, and then headed south to Spruce Street before turning east to 33rd Street.
Police said drivers should expect congestion surrounding the Palestra, which is located at the corner of 33rd and Spruce/South streets, until at least 1 p.m.
Burial at Fernwood Cemetery in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania will immediately follow the funeral. The funeral procession will start its route to the cemetery around noon -- requiring the following road closures:
Wilson was in full uniform when brothers Carlton Hipps, 30, and Ramone Williams, 26, entered the GameStop store and announced the robbery, subsequently sparking a "fierce and violent" gun battle that ended with the officer being shot in the head and killed, said Homicide Capt. Darrell Clark.
Wilson is being hailed a hero and is credited with saving the lives of customers and store employees, according to Ramsey. Williams and Hipps are charged with his murder.
Fellow officers setup a trust fund for Wilson's family. Checks can be mailed and made payable to:
The Robert Wilson III Family Memorial Trust Fund
Police and Fire Federal Credit Union
901 Arch St.
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
A GoFundMe page was also created so donations can be made online.
Officials are investigating two collapses and one partial collapse that occurred in Philadelphia Saturday.
At least one person was hurt during the first incident, when a 3-story house collapsed in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood early Saturday morning.
The incident occurred along the 2000 block of East Sterner Street, near the intersection of Frankford and Lehigh avenues, around 4:45 a.m., according to officials.
Firefighters reported a strong odor of gas and Philadelphia Gas Works crews were called to the scene to investigate, authorities said.
Rescuers rushed a 43-year-old man to Temple University Hospital. He was treated for minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. During the collapse, one of the man's dogs was killed.
"The gentleman got up in the middle of the night and went to the bathroom on the second floor," said Jen Leary of Red Paw Relief. "As he was in the bathroom it all kind of pancaked in on itself. He's very lucky to be alive."
Leary told NBC10 she and her team eventually found the man's other dog alive in the rubble as well as his cat alive underneath the concrete.
"The cat was kind of poking his head in and out of the rubble," Leary said.
The city's Department of Licenses and Inspections declared the property imminently dangerous and secured the area with fencing and barricades. They are working to contact the owner of the property and plan to later demolish it.
A vacant home on the 600 block of North Union Street in West Philadelphia also collapsed around 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
The front two thirds of the property, which was used for storage, collapsed onto the sidewalk. Police blocked off Mount Vernon and Union streets due to the collapse and all utilities were disconnected. No injuries were reported.
The owner of the property also gave L&I authorization to demolish it. L&I officials are also working to safely remove the owner’s tools, which were stored inside the building.
Finally a Domino’s Pizza restaurant in South Philadelphia partially collapsed Saturday afternoon. Dozens of loose bricks dislodged from the second story building on the 700 block of South Street around 2 p.m. No one was evacuated or injured during the incident.
The owner of the building will hire his contractor to repair the property. L&I officials closed the foot-way surrounding the structure. Customers will have another entrance to the Domino’s for the time being.
Officials have not yet revealed the causes of the collapses. However, they believe freezing and thawing due to the recent warmer temperatures following the bitter cold likely played a role. They also said they typically see several building collapses during this time of year as Winter comes to an end and Spring approaches.
Saturday started off rainy -- and it will stay that way throughout the mild day.
Light to moderate rain will fall through the morning and afternoon with some short periods of heavy precipitation.
Warm temperatures along with the rain will likely melt the last of the remaining snow -- which may cause ponding on area roadways.
High temperatures will head towards 60 degrees in Philadelphia. It will be slightly cooler in suburbs north and west of the city, while parts south and east may see temps climbing into the low 60s.
The wet weather will taper off in the later afternoon, turning into a drizzle for the evening.
The clouds will clear overnight as temperatures head into the low 40s.
St. Patrick's Day revelers heading to Philly for the parade Sunday could still use their jackets despite mild temperatures. Highs will be in the low 50s on the partly sunny day, but wind gusts could hit speeds around 25 miles per hour.
The weather will remain mostly sunny and mild through St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday, but some colder weather returns towards the end of the work week.
Crews responded to Interstate 476 at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extention Saturday morning after a tractor trailer -- carry cheese -- flipped and caused traffic trouble along the busy interchange, according to authorities.
The crash happened just after 8 a.m. on I-476 near the exit for the Lehigh Valley Interchange, according to Pennsylvania Turnpike officials.
No one was hurt in the single vehicle accident, authorities said. The backup was cleared a short time after the crash occurred.
Didn't have a chance to catch the news? Here are yesterday's top stories.
Viewing for Fallen Philadelphia Hero Police Officer Robert Wilson
Philadelphia Police gathered Friday afternoon for an emotional procession and viewing as they remembered a fallen hero. Gunmen struck down Officer Robert Wilson III during a botched robbery attempt last week, said Philadelphia Police.
Man Abducts Ex-Girlfriend's 4-Year-Old Son: Police
A search for a 4-year-old boy who police say was abducted by his mother's ex-boyfriend began early Friday and ended a few hours later when the boy and his alleged kidnapper were found.
Gunman Kills Man Walking Dog Along Philadelphia Street
A gunman killed a businessman walking his dog along a Philadelphia street Thursday night.
Rescuers Free Deer From Water Tank in New Jersey
Firefighters rescued a deer from a tank at a water treatment plant in New Jersey. Officials believe the deer slipped under a security fence and landed in the tank at the Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority on Thursday.
Girl Charged in Brutal McDonald's Brawl Has History of Violence, Accused of Attacking Own Grandmother
The 16-year-old girl arrested in connection with a vicious brawl involving a group of girls inside a Brooklyn McDonald's earlier this week has been arrested half a dozen times since September on various offenses, including for allegedly attacking her own grandmother.
An explosion, possibly from a natural gas leak, has damaged a home in Seaside Heights, authorities say.
An appliance may have sparked the blast at the Sumner Avenue home, where police say some sort of maintenance work was being done on the first floor at the time.
The explosion left a hole in an exterior wall of the home.
Seaside Heights police say a 26-year-old woman was inside the second-floor apartment at the time. She was transported to Community Medical Center with unknown injuries.
Utility crews from New Jersey Natural Gas are also responding.
Natural gas is also thought to have caused two recent explosions in Ocean County, one in February that injured 15 people and forced 80 families from their homes, and another earlier this month that burned a man in his Jersey Shore home.
A family is searching for a pet dog that went missing after an early morning fire in the Nicetown section of the city.
The fire began at a three-story home on the 1500 block of West Cayuga Street Saturday around 3 a.m. Firefighters were able to place the blaze under control at 4:04 a.m. One person was taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.
During the fire, a family pit bull named Snoop went missing, according to Darlaina Rose, the dog’s owner. Rose told NBC10 the 2-year-old dog ran away around 3 a.m. as the fire began and hasn’t been seen since.
Rose says the dog is friendly, licensed and chipped. If you have any information regarding Snoop’s whereabouts, please call Rose at 215-669-5670.
