Jul 7, 2017 3 min read

MONESSEN – A Monessen man was arrested Friday as the suspected gunman in a robbery and shooting in his hometown last month.

District Judge Joseph Dalfonso sent Joseph “Jo Jo” Heath, 27, to Westmoreland County Jail on charges that included attempted homicide in the June 25 shooting of Timothy “Boo” Kershaw, 31, also of Monessen, court records show.

Dalfonso also signed a warrant a day earlier for the arrest of a second suspect in the case. Rashawn Taylor Ford, 26, also of Monessen, faces a single charge of conspiracy filed by police in this Westmoreland County city, according to court records.

Heath was accused of shooting Kershaw in the right thigh with a .40-caliber handgun in a dispute over a woman, police stated in the affidavit supporting the criminal charges in the case.

Kershaw told investigators that he and Heath had a conflict because he is romantically involved with Heath’s former girlfriend. She is expecting a baby fathered by Kershaw, police stated.

Police were responding to a call about gunfire about 3 a.m. June 25 along Summit Avenue when they learned the suspects had fled the area in a red Honda coupe or sedan. Officers were met there by Gabriel Cannoni, who said his friend, Kershaw, had earlier asked him for a ride to the 1600 block of Summit. Once they arrived on the narrow street, Cannoni stopped his vehicle to allow a red Honda to pass him from the opposite direction.

He said Heath and Ford stopped, got out of the Honda and began walking in his direction, holding handguns. One of the suspects put a gun to Cannoni’s neck and ordered him to get out of his vehicle, police allege in the affidavit. The suspect then allegedly took Cannoni’s cellphone and ordered him to walk away.

Cannoni said he then ran through yards and saw Kershaw running up Summit toward Dennis Avenue, the record states.

Cannoni told police he saw Heath “raise his handgun, assume a shooting stance and fire one shot” in Kershaw’s direction. The suspects then drove off in the Honda, police said. Kershaw was flown by helicopter to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Police said Cannoni identified Heath and Ford through a photo lineup. Kershaw, in a statement to police, identified Heath as the man who shot him.

Heath also is charged with robbery, conspiracy, aggravated assault, theft, receiving stolen property, making terroristic threats, simple assault, possessing an instrument of a crime, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.

Dalfonso sent Heath to jail on $30,000 bond.