An Emporium man is in police custody at the Emporium-based state
police barracks following a shooting in Greenville, Mercer
County.

Robert Martin, a suspect in the early Tuesday morning shooting
of Mount Jewett native Andy Eschrich, is reported to be in
custody.

According to a press release from the Greenville Police
Department, officers responded to a 911 call at 2:25 a.m. Tuesday
at a 20 North 2nd Street residence from a female caller, reporting
her boyfriend had been shot and her car was on fire.

Police found a blue Chevy Cavalier on fire when arriving on the
scene and a male victim (Eschrich) with a gunshot wound to the
abdomen. The victim was taken by Life Force ambulance to UPMC
Horizon Hospital and then taken by Life Flight medical helicopter
to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, according to the report.

His current condition is not being released.

Jason Howell, a Bradford resident and cousin to Eschrich,
explained to The Era on Tuesday night that Eschrich had recently
moved to Greenville after living in Mount Jewett for most of his
life.

Eschrich is a Kane Area High School graduate.

According to Howell, the family was informed that Eschrich had
been shot multiple times. Howell also noted that another family
member reported Eschrich has already undergone at least one surgery
and that he suffered internal injuries but is not paralyzed.

Howell, who noted that he and Eschrich are more like brothers
than cousins, said that the next 24 to 48 hours are going to be
critical.

Original reports on the shooting had said that Eschrich
confronted a thief attempting to siphon gas from his vehicle and
was shot by the thief.

However, a story published on the Web site of WPXI-TV in
Pittsburgh reported that Martin is suspected of setting the car on
fire to lure Eschrich from his residence, at which point he
allegedly shot him. The story also reports Martin shot a second
time, targeting a female when she left the home after hearing the
first shot.

According to the WPXI story, police believe allegations of child
abuse that are currently under investigation may be a factor in the
motive for the shooting.