Police charge Lower Burrell man with threatening woman, baby with knife

Police have charged a Lower Burrell man with threatening a woman, a man and a baby with a 4-inch knife.

Christian J. Duvall, 25, of Lower Burrell is charged with endangering the welfare of children, aggravated assault of a victim less than 13 years old, attempt to cause bodily injury with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and other charges.

He was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec. His preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 7., 2021

Lower Burrell police responded to a domestic dispute involving a weapon Aug. 16.

The caller said a woman and her boyfriend were in the house and the boyfriend, Duvall, had a knife and was threatening everyone.

Police reported there were three children in the house.

The caller, who was holding a toddler outside of the home, said Duvall threatened him, the woman and her children with the knife.

When police entered the house, they heard a woman calling for help from the second floor.

They reached the second floor and found Duvall with a knife and the woman with a child beside her. Police tried to talk to Duvall but he would not respond. One of the officers tried to take the knife from Duvall, but he raised his arm.

Police used a Taser on Duvall at least twice before they subdued and handcuffed him.

Afterward, the caller and the woman provided police more details on what happened before their arrival.

According to police interviews, the incident started when Duvall took a knife from a drawer and stabbed himself in the arm and neck. The woman told police she tried to take the knife from him, but Duvall then chased her around the house with it. She stated he also pointed the knife toward a child who was in a swing.

The woman got the man who went on to call the police to help her. The caller said he found Duvall with a baby in one arm and holding a knife.

The caller said he convinced Duvall to give him the baby.

Then, Duvall followed the man around the house with the knife.

Duvall was taken to Westmoreland County Prison when he was unable to post $100,000 bail. A mental health evaluation was ordered.