PUNXSUTAWNEY BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – Authorities say a local man charged with attempted homicide allegedly caught the victim in the shower with his ex-girlfriend before gunfire broke out in Punxsutawney Borough on Monday.
Court documents show the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 22-year-old Matthew Garrett Brotherton, of Punxsutawney, in District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock’s office on Wednesday, October 18.
According to the criminal complaint, Master Patrolman Zeitler along with Patrolman Clement received a radio call from Jefferson County Control around 8:59 p.m. on Monday, October 16, reporting that they have received a 9-1-1 call for two people that were shot at at a residence on Woodland Avenue, in Punxsutawney Borough, Jefferson County.
County Control reported that one victim is still on the scene, and it is unknown where the shooter is located. Patrolman Zeitler advised County Control to call the Pennsylvania State Police, Chief Conrad and Lieutenant Wittenburg for assistance. Upon our arrival, officers deployed long guns and approached the residence and secured the perimeter, the complaint states.
Upon the arrival of Lt. Wittenburg, entry was made into the house. Patrolman Zeitler secured the downstairs, and Lt. Wittenburg along with Ptlm. Clement responded to the upstairs where the victim of the shooting was located along with a female witness, the complaint indicates.
The victim was on the bed of the upstairs bedroom, naked, with gunshot wounds to his stomach and right thigh. His firearm, a loaded SCCY CPX2 9mm pistol, was laying beside him. Once making sure the scene was secure, medical personal were permitted into the residence to render aid to the victim, who was stabilized and transported to DuBois Penn Highlands for treatment, the complaint notes.
Lt. Wittenburg located the victim’s pistol along with a magazine, which was used in the incident, in the upstairs bedroom partially under the television stand where the victim was located, according to the complaint.
The victim stated it was his firearm, the complaint states.
Lt. Wittenburg then found a second loaded magazine on the second from the top step on the stairs. The firearm was brought downstairs along with two magazines and placed on the back of the couch, the complaint notes.
Patrolman Zeitler was informed that the suspect that shot the victim was Matthew Brotherton. A few moments later, officers were informed that Brotherton was at the Punxsutawney Area Hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds, the complaint indicates.
Patrolman Zeitler and Trooper Dana Mosler spoke with the witness, who stated that she and the victim were both in the upstairs bathroom taking a shower. Brotherton had somehow broken into the residence and came into the bathroom and began punching the victim, according to the complaint.
Brotherton pulled a pistol out and shot the victim a few times. The victim then went into the upstairs bedroom to get away. Brotherton chased him into the bedroom, and the witness heard several more shots. The witness went into the bedroom and began to apply pressure to the victim’s gunshot wounds, the complaint states.
The witness also informed police that she and Brotherton had been dating, but they had broken up a few months ago, and he has not left her alone since the separation. She stated that she and the victim had just begun to date. She felt Brotherton must have become jealous about her new relationship, the complaint indicates.
A black 2015 Dodge Dart Rally that displayed Pennsylvania registration LYY-7808 was located at the Punxsutawney Area Hospital’s Emergency Room entrance. This vehicle is owned by Brotherton’s father, who was outside of the emergency room when police arrived. Brotherton’s father stated he drove his son up to the hospital and that he had been shot, the complaint notes.
Trooper Nicholson looked inside the vehicle and observed a holstered firearm in plain view, with blood on it lying on the back seal. A photograph was taken of the firearm. The pistol, a Sig Sauer P365x, was taken into evidence by Trooper R. Munaee, who turned the evidence over to Patrolman Compton of the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department. The vehicle was towed from the Punxsutawney Area Hospital to the State Police impound lot. A NCIC and CLEAN check was completed on the Sig Sauer that was recovered from Brotherton’s vehicle. The check showed that the pistol was registered to Brotherton, according to the complaint.
One of the magazines recovered at the scene of the crime was consistent with the pistol later recovered from Brotherton’s vehicle, the complaint notes.
All evidence collected from Brotherton was placed into the evidence room.
A nighttime search warrant was applied for the house at 410 Woodland to quickly collect evidence. A search warrant was also applied for the Dodge Dan found at the hospital. This vehicle was towed to PSP impound lot until a warrant could be processed, the complaint indicates.
Brotherton was charged with the following:
- Criminal Attempt – Murder Of The First Degree, H1
- Aggravated Assault – Attempts to cause or causes BI with deadly weapon, Felony 2
- Aggravated Assault – Attempts to cause SBI or causes injury with extreme indifference, Felony 1
- Burglary – Overnight Accommodations; Person Present, Bodily Injury Crime, Felony 1
- Possession Of Weapon, Misdemeanor 1
- Poss Instrument Of Crime W/Int, Misdemeanor 1
- Terroristic Threats W/ Int To Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1
He is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing.
