Police arrest man in Versailles stabbing rampage that left 1 dead, 2 hurt
Share this post:
After drinking tequila and smoking marijuana, an out-of-control Washington County man tore through a Mon Valley duplex Thursday night, killing one man, attempting to stab another and forcing a woman into a headlock before apologizing and fleeing the scene with a dog, police said.
Allegheny County Police on Friday charged Robert Kail, 40, of Peters, in the fatal stabbing of his drinking companion, Vincent “Vinny” Bazzone, 38, of Versailles.
Bazzone died at 8:12 p.m. near his Worthington Street apartment.
Kail was taken Friday to the Allegheny County Jail — but not before police said he assaulted an officer.
Kail told police that he stabbed Bazzone multiple times, according to a criminal complaint in the case. It remains unclear what triggered the attack — or the violence that followed.
Police said Kail told investigators that he went to Bazzone’s house Thursday night after he and the victim texted and talked by phone.
“He stated that he went over and they were drinking Patron and smoking weed,” the complaint said.
“Kail stated that he grabbed a knife in the apartment and stabbed Vinny multiple times,” according to police.
Kail then attacked one of Bazzone’s neighbors, police said. Kail’s explanation to investigators: because “he had to do what he had to do,” the complaint said.
The neighbor, who was not identified, told police that he was vacuuming when he heard someone fall down.
He said he saw Bazzone bleeding after falling down the stairs from his second-floor apartment and tried to help him.
Kail barged into the neighbor’s apartment, the complaint said.
The neighbor, who police did not name, tried calling 911. But Kail knocked him down onto his kitchen floor, according to police.
Kail grabbed a steak knife from the kitchen counter and attacked, the complaint said.
The man put up his right hand to block the knife, which gouged his finger.
Then, police said, the blade broke.
The neighbor later told police he pulled Kail’s long hair and ripped off his T-shirt as they struggled, the complaint said.
The man’s wife ran outside for help. Kail, who witnesses said was carrying a gun, followed her, the complaint said.
“I’m going to kill you,” Kail said, as he put her in a headlock, according to the complaint.
The neighbor snatched a pistol from his night stand and ran outside, pointing the gun at Kail and telling him to let go.
Kail released the man’s wife and apologized, the complaint said. He went back into Bazzone’s apartment, took a black dog and drove away in a white Toyota with Pennsylvania plates.
A witness spotted the car during the commotion and relayed the license plate to 911.
McKeesport police later spotted the car and took a shirtless Kail into custody.
In the McKeesport police station hallway, Kail again became violent, slamming one sergeant into a wall and bear-hugging and choking a police dog, the complaint said.
The sergeant was hospitalized with an injured neck, back and knee, the complaint said. The police dog was also hurt.
The neighbor who was stabbed suffered several cut tendons in his pinky, the complaint said. He went to Allegheny General Hospital for treatment. His wife was treated for a cut on her arm.
Versailles police said they found two knives at the crime scene: one large, the other with the broken blade.
While doctors treated Kail on Thursday in UPMC McKeesport hospital’s trauma bay, he confessed to stabbing Bazzone, the complaint said. He also told police he stabbed the neighbor, according to the complaint.
County police charged Kail with homicide, attempted homicide, assault of a law enforcement officer, burglary, and two counts each of aggravated assault and making terroristic threats.
He was awaiting arraignment on Friday afternoon. His attorney was not listed in the court record.