The Johnsonburg man accused in the shooting death of another man early Sunday morning in Ridgway is being held in Elk County Jail without bail.
Court records indicate that Brian A. Martin, 35, of 223 Maple St., Johnsonburg, was arraigned Sunday afternoon before District Judge James Martin.
The only detail of the alleged victim’s identity released by officials Sunday was from Elk County Coroner Michelle A. Muccio, who said he was a 42-year-old Caucasian man. The criminal complaint identifies the man as “D.C.”
The Facebook page of a woman who identified herself as a relative of the victim indicated the deceased is David Corey.
Muccio reported Sunday that the man was shot multiple times in the chest at Cully’s bar in Ridgway, and he died at Penn Highlands Elk.
Brian Martin is charged with criminal homicide, a first-degree felony; discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, a third-degree felony; and recklessly endangering another person, a second-degree misdemeanor.
According to the criminal complaint, at 2:15 a.m. Sunday, Ridgway Borough Police were dispatched to Cully’s, 231 W. Main St., Ridgway, for a report of shots fired. Police arrived to see Martin being detained by another male outside the front door of Cully’s; the man who was detaining Martin told police that Martin was the shooter and that the weapon — a Ruger LC9 9mm handgun — was empty and at his feet.
Inside, police saw a man with at least two round holes in his chest lying on the floor in front of the entrance with several people helping him, the complaint stated. The man was taken by ambulance to Penn Highlands Elk, where he died.
In an interview with police, Martin said he had a license to carry a concealed weapon and would keep one in the back of his waistband. Martin told police the alleged victim attacked him, striking him in the back of the head several times, and he could not defend himself, according to the complaint.
Martin said he “felt he was in danger and retrieved the weapon from the back of his waist band and began firing the weapon at the victim,” the complaint stated.
Martin did not report to the interviewing officer, Patrolman John Gangloff, any injuries, nor did the officer observe any injuries, according to the complaint.
Gangloff stated in the complaint that surveillance video from inside Cully’s matched statements by Martin and witnesses. The video showed an altercation between Martin and the alleged victim; then, there was one muzzle flash and several bangs that sounded like gunshots, the complaint stated.
According to court records, Muccio reported to police that the alleged victim had four gunshot wounds.
Muccio stated on Sunday that an autopsy was scheduled for Monday. No information from the autopsy was released as of press time Monday.
A preliminary hearing is set for 10:30 a.m. May 15. No attorney is listed for Martin.
