Pitcairn man attacks neighbor with hammer, police say

A Pitcairn man is behind bars after beating a neighbor with a hammer late Thursday, authorities said.

William Alan Jackson, 42, was charged Friday with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and making terroristic threats, court records show.

Police said they took Jackson, after a mental health evaluation, to Allegheny County Jail. He is awaiting arraignment.

Jackson entered the home of Edward McDowell, 71, in the 1200 block of Wall Avenue in Pitcairn around 11:55 p.m. Thursday and confronted him, according to a criminal complaint. The two men argued.

Jackson’s mother then saw Jackson punching and kicking McDowell to the ground, the criminal complaint said. Jackson took McDowell’s cellphone, walked to the victim’s front porch and threw it across the street.

Monroeville police responding to a call from Jackson’s mother found McDowell lying in a pool of blood, the criminal complaint said. Police found a blood-covered hammer near McDowell. Walls, a door frame and other items nearby were splattered with blood.

McDowell suffered multiple head injuries and was taken to Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville, the criminal complaint said. He was in critical condition after the attack, but police said he is expected to survive.

County police said Jackson confessed to the assault but denied using the hammer to hit McDowell, the criminal complaint said.