Teen gets attempted homicide charge in attack
A 14-year-old was left in critical condition Tuesday after being struck over the head multiple times with a crowbar in a fight with an older teen in Harrison. The older male is facing an attempted homicide charge.
Officers responded just after 3 p.m. to the 200 block of Jolly Hill Road, where they found a 14year-old male had severe wounds to his head from being beat with a crowbar, according to a criminal complaint. Russell Smith, 17, of Natrona Heights, fled the scene before police arrived, but was captured and arrested nearby.
As he was being arrested, Russell confessed, “I just did a homicide,” before he was taken to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Natrona Heights for a leg injury, a criminal complaint said.
The younger teen was taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in critical condition with several head lacerations and skull fractures, police said.
The two teens, along with others, were riding home on a school bus when an argument with other kids later turned physical. Russell told police he got off the bus through a rear emergency escape door when the bus stopped at Jolly Hill Road. The younger teen grabbed a crowbar that was near the bus driver and followed Russell out the rear exit, police said.
Russell said he heard his name being called, and turned to see the younger teen holding a crowbar and running toward him. He was hit on his right knee as the 14year-old swung the bar, a criminal complaint said.
Russell was able to take the crowbar, and then began striking the younger teen in the stomach and over the head until the teen “blacked out,” a criminal complaint said. He threw the weapon and ran until he was later confronted by police.
Russell is charged with felony counts of aggravated assault and attempted homicide. He is being held at the Allegheny County Jail, according to court dockets.