McKees Rocks mom pleads guilty to shooting rifle at people who fought with her daughter
Share this post:
A McKees Rock woman, accused of opening fire with a rifle on three people who got into a fight with her daughter at a Pittsburgh bar, has pleaded guilty in the case to lesser charges.
Artiella G. Bennett, 43, pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated assault and two counts of recklessly endangering another person, court records show. Other charges — including attempted homicide, a third count of recklessly endangering another person, and a firearms charge — were withdrawn.
Patrick J. Thomassey, who represents Bennett, said Monday he was proud of Bennett for acknowledging her mistakes.
“I give her credit to admit she was wrong,” Thomassey told the Tribune-Review. “She realizes she took it too far. Sometimes, when there’s fights like that, you’ve got to walk away.”
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s office declined to comment Monday on the case.
On Sept. 19, 2021 around 1 a.m., Dominique Bennett and “several other females associated with her” got into a dispute with three other people at Craig’s Bar on Chartiers Avenue in Sheraden, according to a criminal complaint in the case.
The three victims left the bar and drove to McKees Rocks in an SUV, the complaint said. As they parked on Locust Street, they saw two sedans parked on the street nearby. Artiella Bennett then exited one sedan, took out a rifle, and fired at least six shots at the victims. After the shooting, the two sedans fled.
One victim, who police did not name, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the right arm, and both the left and right sides of the torso, the complaint said.
There were no severe injuries from the shooting, Thomassey said Monday.
Bennett’s sentencing is set for Oct. 17 in front of District Judge Bruce R. Beemer. Thomassey said Bennett could face 10 to 20 years in prison.