Missing dog may have motivated man to shoot at car in Hecla, police say

A man escaped injury Sunday after state police said his vehicle was shot at five times on Hecla Road.

Troopers arrested William K. Dodrill, 44, of Mt. Pleasant Township, on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and related offenses in connection with the shooting.

Police reported in court papers that there were bullet holes in a rear tail light, passenger side door and front driver’s side tire and the back window was shattered.

The shooting was reported at 12:30 a.m. after Dodrill and his neighbor came home from a social club. The target of the shooting, who police said is the son of Dodrill’s neighbor, told investigators that he was hanging out with friends in an area off Hecla Road, not far from Dodrill’s home in the village of Hecla.

When the man left in his vehicle and turned on to Hecla Road, he saw Dodrill standing on the street near the intersection of Ricci Lane, according to court papers. He reported seeing flashes from a gun and hearing rounds hit his vehicle. A juvenile also reported seeing Dodrill and hearing gunshots.

Dodrill told authorities he shot at the man’s vehicle several times as it pulled out of a gravel lot, according to court papers. Police indicated the incident may have been related to a missing dog.

Troopers said they found five shell casings, shards of glass and pieces of a brake light on the street. They seized a pistol from Dodrill’s home.

Dodrill was being held on $500,000 bail at the Westmoreland County Prison. A May 8 preliminary hearing is set. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records.