Victim identified in Upper Burrell bar shooting; suspect jailed

An Upper Burrell man has been charged with homicide in connection with a fatal shooting at an Upper Burrell tavern Saturday night.

Daniel J. Moles, 61, was arrested and taken to the Westmoreland County Prison, according to court documents.

The shooting occurred shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday at Woodpeckers Pub and Grub on Seventh Street Road.

The Westmoreland County Coroner on Monday identified the deceased as Randy Jenereaux, 31, of Vandergrift. The coroner said Jenereaux had been shot in the chest and ruled his death a homicide.

Walker Funeral Home in New Kensington is handling arrangements for Jenereaux, the coroner said.

Upper Burrell police Chief Kenneth Pate told Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV the bar was crowded when a regular customer, whom Pate identified as Moles, brandished a .45-caliber gun and fired twice. One shot hit Jenereaux, killing him.

“When I got here, it was kind of a chaotic scene, people out in the parking lot yelling, screaming,” Pate told WPXI.

Investigators said the victim and Moles did not know each other and did not have any interaction at the bar, the TV station reported.

“I know there were a couple patrons involved with it, that had taken him sort of into custody and secured the weapon. And when officers arrived, they put him under arrest,” Pate told WPXI.

Bar officials expressed grief for the victim and his family on Facebook as well as to thanks those who cooperated with authorities.

“This was a horrible nightmare for all our customers and workers,” the post read, in part.

Online court documents show Moles was denied bail. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for Nov. 23 before District Judge Cheryl J. Peck Yakopec.

Lights were on and music was playing Sunday evening at Woodpeckers, but there were “closed today” signs on the door and no cars in the parking lot.

The bar sits near the Penn State New Kensington campus and an apartment complex.

No one answered the door at a nearby home or at the apartment complex Sunday evening.

Multiple phone calls to the police department Sunday afternoon and evening went unreturned.

The coroner said Upper Burrell police and the Westmoreland County Detective Bureau were investigating, and would release additional details at their discretion.