Preliminary hearings are scheduled today for three defendants involved in a shooting and drug investigation at the Days Inn in Burrell Township.
26-year-old David McGinnis of Bolivar, 30-year-old Justin Libengood of Somerset, and 26-year-old Matraca Vrana of Northern Cambria are all due before District Judge Susanne Steffee at one o’clock.
McGinnis is charged with discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, prohibited possession of a firearm, recklessly endangering another person, and possession with intent to deliver. Libengood is charged with aggravated assault, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, prohibited possession of a firearm, and attempted robbery. Vrana is charged with possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police say Libengood pulled a handgun and tried to rob McGinnis during a drug deal inside a hotel room. The two fought and a shot was fired, with McGinnis suffering a gunshot wound to the back of his neck.
Meanwhile, in Westmoreland County, David McGinnis’s mother, Denise McGinnis of Bolivar, has had her preliminary hearing continued to August 30th. She is charged with criminal solicitation to possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy to the same offense, endangering the welfare of children, and corruption of minors. Police accuse her of using a teenager to try to move raw heroin and marijuana at the direction of her son while he was on the run from the law. Prior to the shooting in Burrell Township, David McGinnis was free after posting $100,000 bond in a drug case. He was charged last month with possession with intent to deliver heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. The drugs were found at his home in Bolivar.
