Arnold man, Indiana area woman hit with same gunshot after struggle over gun

An Arnold man who was threatening suicide was shot in the shoulder during a struggle with another man over the gun early Saturday morning in Indiana County and a woman was wounded by the same bullet, state police in Indiana said.

State police called the shooting an accident.

Police did not identify the 22-year-old Arnold man.

Police believe he was shot when a 20-year-old man from Clune, Indiana County, is believed to have grabbed the gun that the Arnold man still had pointed at his own chest.

The victim reportedly was making suicidal statements.

The man from Clune and the Rural Valley woman who also was stuck by the bullet reportedly were talking to the Arnold man in an attempt to deescalate the situation.

The incident happened while the Arnold man was seated in the driver’s seat of a truck and the Clune man was standing outside the door. The woman, 19, had climbed into the passenger seat.

When the gun went off, the bullet went through the Arnold man’s right shoulder and struck the woman in the upper left arm, going right though it. The round was not recovered.

The incident happened at about 2:30 a.m. Aug. 10. in a field in the 600 block of Gemmell Road, Young Township, state police at Indiana said Wednesday.

The Arnold man was flown to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh and the injured female was flown to Allegheny Health Network Forbes Hospital in Monroeville for treatment. Both victims have since been discharged.

While conducting the investigation, the vehicle was seized as evidence. Troopers requested assistance from local fire departments and the state police Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations Canine Unit in an attempt to locate the gun, which was not recovered.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tpr. Phil Dern at 724-357-1960. The incident number is: PA2019-1050228.