Wednesday, October 24, 2001
Court documents said a victim fired a number of shots at his attackers.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- A Meek Street man fatally wounded in a North Water Avenue apartment early Saturday went there to rob the occupants, according to court documents.
Edward Boles, 38, died of a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. The death has been ruled a homicide by the Mercer County coroner's office.
Court documents say an apartment occupant fired several shots, apparently in self-defense, as he was being attacked. One shot is thought to have hit Boles.
In the documents, police say Boles conspired with Jody Gabriele, 40, of Elm Avenue, to go to the apartment around 3:40 a.m. that day to commit robbery.
Gabriele was arrested Tuesday and charged with robbery, burglary, criminal trespass, aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime and conspiracy to commit burglary, robbery, assault and criminal trespass.
He was arraigned before District Justice James McMahon, who ordered him held in Mercer County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
What happened: The court documents indicate that Michael D. Harris, 24, identified as being from Chicago but who was staying at the apartment on Water Avenue, acknowledged firing as he was being attacked by Boles and Gabriele, who were wielding a baseball bat.
No charges had been filed against Harris as of this morning.
He told police he and three other apartment occupants, Ray Harris, Christine Norris and Audrey Harris, were sleeping when he heard a loud knock at the door.
Michael Harris said he opened the door and was rushed by Boles and Gabriele, who beat him and demanded money. The men took turns with the bat, he said.
The attackers fled as he fired, he said.
Police found Gabriele in a car near the scene and Boles was found about two blocks away near Ellsworth Street. A small, bloody baseball bat was found near him.
Boles died around 7:30 a.m. while undergoing emergency surgery.
The .32-caliber gun was recovered, police said.
Gabriele identified Michael Harris as the person who fired, according to court documents.