Beaver Co. Man Charged With Firing Shots At Neighbors On Dirt Bikes
BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – A Beaver County man is facing charges after a neighbor dispute about dirt bikes escalated into shots being fired.
According to the criminal complaint, the incident happened in the 500-block of Hall Road in Brighton Township on Aug. 6 around 8 p.m.
Eric Hamilton has been competing in motocross events since he was 12. Now he's a professional and he built a track on his property in rural Brighton Township.
A few weeks ago, Hamilton ran into a problem with his neighbor who complained about the noise from roaring engines.
"Kind of irate, drunk, started screaming at us, telling me we ain't allowed to ride, we were breaking the law," said Hamilton.
Authorities say the neighbor, identified as 54-year-old Kelly John Allen, called police complaining about the noise. But police told him that Hamilton was in his full right to ride dirt bikes on his own property as long as he doesn't ride at an indecent hour.
"He continued to argue, argue, argue," said Hamilton. "He's in my face, yelling drunk. I finally persuaded him into leaving; he went back over his house at that point."
Hamilton says after Allen left, he continued to ride with a friend and his friend's 5-year-old son, who was learning to ride. Hamilton says about 15 minutes later, Allen returned with a gun.
"He came right over the property line, pulled a handgun out and started shooting at us," said Hamilton.
Authorities say the boy's grandmother heard the first shots and told Hamilton his neighbor fired a shot.
Hamilton said he heard another shot and called police.
Allen lives about a hundred yards from Hamilton's home. Allen denied owning a gun to police. However, he told police he, "would shoot and kill his neighbor if he did."
"I'm more upset at the fact that he was under the influence with a firearm and pointing it in the direction of another human being," said Hamilton.
Allen has been charged with recklessly endangering another person, public drunkenness and terroristic threats.
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
