Men wanted in Monessen attempted homicide
MONESSEN – A Monessen man and another from Pittsburgh are wanted in connection with a home invasion, robbery and attempted homicide in the Mon Valley on the Fourth of July.
District Judge Roger Eckels signed warrants Wednesday for the arrests of Joseph Syrus Rutherford, 27, of 2525 S. 18th St., Pittsburgh, and Tamaine Oscar Underwood, 37, of 606 Reed Ave., Monessen, on allegations they assaulted three members of a family, shooting the husband in the stomach just after noon during a home invasion.
Police claim investigators have video surveillance from several locations in the city in Westmoreland County showing Rutherford’s dark blue Buick sedan, including images of the two men walking away from the car and onto the property of the victim, James Russel Tyree, according to the affidavit supporting the criminal charges in the case.
A juvenile at Tyree’s residence at 1132 Reservoir Ave. was removed at gunpoint, allegedly by Underwood, from his mother’s vehicle. Along the way the suspect threatened to shoot the son of Nadine Tyree, the affidavit claims.
At least one of the suspects got into James Tyree’s vehicle more than once to steal $7,000, police said.
The record did not indicate how Nadine Tyree was assaulted. Her husband was flown by medical helicopter to Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, where he underwent several hours of surgery on his injuries, police said.
The Tyrees later identified the suspects when police showed them photo arrays, the affidavit said.
Both suspects face charges of attempted homicide, conspiracy, robbery, aggravated assault, theft, making terroristic threats, simple assault, reckless endangerment and person not to possess a firearm.