Vandergrift man accused of shooting up 3 borough homes
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A Vandergrift man was arraigned Friday on charges accusing him of firing more than a dozen shots into three occupied homes last month.
Javon Michael Thorn Lambert, 22, faces 11 felony counts, including discharging a firearm in an occupied structure, aggravated assault and illegal gun possession, in connection with the alleged shooting spree.
A criminal complaint filed against Lambert said police received multiple calls around 2 a.m. March 12 about gunfire along Jefferson Avenue. Two days earlier, police received a report from a resident in the area where the shooting happened alleging that Lambert had made death threats against members of their family, the complaint said.
Police investigating the shooting also learned that Lambert had made similar threats throughout the day leading up to the shooting, the complaint said.
Responding officers found fresh bullet holes in the front door of that residence, along with a shattered front door window, the complaint said. Police said in the complaint that bullets also went through a wall and into an upstairs bedroom where everyone in the house was staying because of safety concerns over threats made by Lambert.
Homes on both sides of that house also were struck by bullets, the complaint said.
No one was injured.
Police said they recovered bullet slugs from all three homes and a search of the area turned up 16 shell casings. They also found a witness who reported that Lambert admitted to the shooting, the complaint said.
Lambert was arrested when state police executed a search warrant at a Lower Burrell residence where he was known to visit with a girlfriend. Police said they found ammunition matching the kind used in the Vandergrift shooting and guns capable of firing the ammunition.
The complaint said police also executed a search warrant for Lambert’s cellphone records, which showed that the phone was used to call one of the alleged victims and also that it was in the Vandergrift area at the time of the shooting.
Lambert was taken to Westmoreland County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 11. Online court records did not list an attorney for Lambert.