Police: 2 arrested, teen wanted in Derry Township shooting during bungled drug deal

A 20-year-old man was shot and seriously injured Sunday in a bungled drug deal and robbery outside a Derry Township home, state police said.

State police at Kiski arrested Michael E. Sawyer, 28, of Salem and Lorraine Painter, 22, of Greensburg in connection with the shooting and robbery that occurred around 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the 200-block of McFarland Avenue. An arrest warrant has been issued for a third suspect, 17-year-old Brandon E. “Lil-Drizzy” Thomas of Scottdale.

The victim’s identity was not released, but he was flown to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh for treatment.

Painter, Sawyer and Thomas drove to the victim’s home in Thomas’s blue, 2016 Chevrolet Cruze to buy THC wax the victim was allegedly selling, Trooper Paige Shreffler reported. The victim did not know any of the buyers “and the arrangements were made via Snapchat,” a multimedia messaging app, the trooper wrote in court papers.

Police said when the trio arrived at the residence, witnesses said Thomas exited the car and attempted to make the transaction “using fake money” that was purchased from an online site, police said.

An altercation ensued during the attempted scam and Sawyer “had a firearm in his possession and shot the victim in the groin area,” Shreffler reported.

Painter, Sawyer and Thomas then drove off, but a witness got a description of the car and a plate number that identified Painter as the owner, according to Shreffler.

“Painter was located and interviewed. While interviewing Painter, the names of (Sawyer and Thomas) were gained,” Shreffler said.

Sawyer was arraigned before District Judge Charles Moore on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, robbery and theft and ordered held in the county jail on $250,000 bond.

Painter is charged with robbery and theft. She was jailed on $20,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing.