PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A Westmoreland County man accused of shooting his son during an argument was in court Monday for a preliminary hearing.

However, that hearing didn’t happen because the victim is still undergoing treatment and is not able to testify.

Prosecutors thought it was important for the judge to hear that testimony since one of the charges is attempted homicide. They told the judge that if it weren’t for the marvels of modern medicine this very likely would have been a homicide rather than an attempt.

The victim’s mother spoke out for the first time since the March 30 shooting. Her son, 30-year-old Francis Poole III, remains hospitalized. He was scheduled to undergo another surgery Monday.

The suspect is the victim’s father, 53-year-old Francis Poole Jr. He’s facing attempted homicide, aggravated assault and related charges after allegedly shooting his son in the abdomen with a shotgun during an argument.

Poole remains in the Westmoreland County Jail on $250,000 bond. The judge denied a motion by the defense to reduce bond because of another violent incident in Poole’s past.

The preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for June, when the victim is scheduled to be released from a rehabilitation facility.

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