Man Accused Of Shooting Boy, 11, With BB Gun Pleads Guilty
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The McKeesport man accused of shooting an 11-year-old boy with a BB gun earlier this year entered a guilty plea in court Thursday morning.
During his preliminary hearing in June, Albert Clark was asked whether he meant to shoot an 11-year-old boy with a BB gun.
"No," repled Clark. "What grown-up means to do that?"
He was charged with shooting the boy in the chest with the BB gun after accusing the boy about shooting his own then-5-year-old son with a BB gun in a McKeesport school yard.
"This young man was as close to death as one could get," said defense attorney Phil DiLucente, "so, by the grace of God, he was able to be saved by the surgeons and Albert Clark recognizes this. He never said for one second that he didn't do it. He never said for one second that he doesn't admit to this guilt."
Thursday, Clark pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and tampering with evidence.
There was no plea agreement, but the more serious attempted homicide charge was dropped earlier.
"Albert Clark could have been facing 20 to 40 years when you take into consideration all of the charges, including attempted homicide, so we were very happy," said DiLucente. "In Pennsylvania, you cannot have attempted homicide for a second or third degree murder case, so no one could argue that it was an intentional act for murder, but it was an intentional reckless act."
Allegheny County Judge Kevin Sasinoski will sentence Clark in February.
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