Woman jailed after Bentleyville shooting
The scene of a Tuesday afternoon shooting
Shalaia Martin
A New Jersey woman was arrested and placed in Washington County jail following a shooting in Bentleyville Tuesday afternoon.
Bentleyville police said Shalaia Martin, 29, of Irvington, and Tyiayya Kirce were at the Pilot Travel Center, 205 Wilson Road, about 3:30 p.m. in a blue Werner tractor-trailer. Kirce said Martin picked up a gun and loaded it. Martin then pointed it at Kirce while she was on a bed inside the cab and fired one shot, striking Kirce in her forearm.
Police executed a search warrant on the truck. A BB gun and a spent carbon dioxide cartridge were recovered.
Kirce was transported by ambulance to Mon Valley Hospital. Her condition was not available late Tuesday.
Police charged Martin with one count each of aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. She was arraigned before District Judge Traci McDonald and placed in jail on $250,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 31 before District Judge Curtis Thompson.
“As this is an open investigation, we are cooperating fully with local authorities who are investigating what happened,” said Anne LeZotte, a spokeswoman for Pilot Flying J, in an email.
The travel center is located off Interstate 70 at the Bentleyville exit.
Staff writer Kathie O. Warco contributed to this report.