A Clifford Twp. man who pointed a gun at patrons of a Susquehanna County bar and pulled the trigger has been charged with criminal attempt to commit homicide.
Brandon Lee Walsh, 30, was charged this week after an incident on May 10 at the Clifford Hotel. Although he tried to fire the gun, it did not go off, police said.
According to court documents, Mr. Walsh entered the Clifford Hotel around 8:30 p.m. and argued with customers and bar owner Donald Edwards Jr.
Police said that at one point, Mr. Walsh was upset and yelled, "I am going to get my gun and blow all of your (expletive) heads off."
He then exited through a front door, and 10 minutes later returned through a rear entrance.
Mr. Edwards told police that Mr. Walsh pointed a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic gun at him and one other person and pulled the trigger.
According to a police complaint, one witness said Mr. Walsh pointed a gun at everybody and a couple of customers were able to knock Mr. Walsh down and get the gun away from him.
Mr. Walsh eventually left the scene and Mr. Edwards turned the gun over to Forest City Patrolman Daniel Lomax.
Early the next morning, Mr. Walsh and a girlfriend contacted state police to report that a gun had been removed from his vehicle, the same gun that turned up at the Clifford Hotel. According to a complaint, Trooper John Oliver said Mr. Walsh knew he was lying to troopers and that the gun was taken from him earlier in the night.
In addition to the homicide attempt charge, Mr. Walsh also faces charges of aggravated assault, terroristic threats and reckless endangerment.
Mr. Walsh remains free on a $50,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday.
Contact the writer: bbaker@wcexaminer.com