Woman, 70, accused of pointing gun at man walking his dog in New Kensington

A 70-year-old New Kensington woman has been charged with one count of simple assault after police say she pointed a gun at a man who was walking his dog near her home.

Larry Alvino told police he was walking his dog along Earl Avenue toward Valley Street when he heard a woman yell “Get out of here.” He later saw a woman in her front of her house pointing a gun at him, according to court documents.

A preliminary hearing for Sharon Shirley on the misdemeanor charge is set for 10 a.m. Thursday before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. in New Kensington.

The incident happened early on Dec. 1, according to police.

Alvino said that as he was walking he saw a vehicle pull up in front of a house. His dog, which was on a leash, noticed someone standing in the shadows and began walking toward the figure, Alvino said. He then heard a woman yell, “Get out of here,” Alvino told police.

Alvino continued walking, and turned around when he reached the corner of Earl Avenue and Valley Street. He told police he saw a woman standing in front of her residence pointing a long gun at him. She told him to leave, and she continued to point the gun at him even as he crossed the street to get to his home and told the woman that he was walking his dog, Alvino told police.

Court documents indicate Shirley called police shortly after 7 a.m. Dec. 1 to report that she came home to find a man standing in the dark. She went inside, saw the man again and yelled that she was getting her son and calling the police. She also told police that the man yelled something about walking a dog.

Police said Alvino identified Shirley through a photo lineup on Dec. 5, and she was charged via summons on Dec. 13.

Madasyn Czebiniak is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Madasyn at 724-226-4702, mczebiniak@tribweb.com, or via Twitter @maddyczebstrib.