Mar 15, 2017 3 min read

A North Strabane Township man who was initially charged by state police with aggravated assault for allegedly firing shots at a vehicle during an incident last October is now facing charges including attempted homicide after the initial case against him was withdrawn Monday.

Donald Lee Wright Jr., 27, of Eighty Four, turned himself in Wednesday for arraignment before District Judge David Mark on three counts each of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment and one count of criminal mischief. He also was arraigned on a warrant obtained earlier this month by North Strabane police charging him with simple assault and harassment.

After a review of the evidence, it was determined the more serious charge of attempted homicide was warranted along with the aggravated assault charges, Assistant District Attorney Jason Walsh said Wednesday.

Wright is accused of firing shots at a sport utility vehicle he allegedly was chasing on Interstates 70 and 79 on Oct. 31. A Houston woman was driving the SUV, while Wright reportedly was arguing on a cellphone with another Houston woman who was one of two passengers in the vehicle.

Police said as the woman drove on West Chestnut Street and turned onto McCarrell Avenue, Wright pulled his vehicle behind the SUV and started to follow. The SUV got onto I-70 east at the Jessop Place exit, with Wright still following them. As they continued to drive east in the left lane, Wright pulled next to them and twice shot at the vehicle, police said. One shot reportedly hit the right rear wheel, and the other hit the right front tire, causing it to blow out.

The SUV continued north onto I-79 but turned around and came back toward Washington just beyond the north junction with I-70. Wright continued north on I-79, police said.

North Strabane police also charged Wright after he allegedly bit a 24-year-old woman during a confrontation at a home on Carl Avenue. The woman told police she confronted him about drug paraphernalia she had found in a van. She told police he threw a child’s toy at her, hitting her in the leg. The two struggled and fell onto the couch. Wright then allegedly bit her on the hand. Wright left before police arrived.

Wright was released on $255,000 unsecured bond set on both cases. He will have a March 29 preliminary hearing before District Judge Jay Weller in the North Strabane assault case and an April 19 hearing before Mark in the attempted homicide case.