5 charged in connection with Export shooting

Five people, including a New Alexandria teen, were arrested by state police in connection with the Sunday shooting of a Monroeville man during an altercation and vehicle chase through Export.

The 27-year-old victim was shot once in the left shoulder and another shot “grazed” off his scalp, Trooper Daniel Pickard of the Kiski station said. Following the arraignment of the suspects Monday before Export District Judge Charles R. Conway, Pickard said the victim’s wounds were not life threatening and he was being treated at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh.

Sandra Lee Cline, 49; her daughter, Kayla M. Grant, 27; and Tyler V. Palandro, 18, all of Murrysville; Reese A. Bronick, 34, of Export; and the juvenile, Connor J. Yakoweloff, 16, were charged with two counts each of aggravated assault in connection with the shooting. Yakoweloff is being charged as an adult, police said.

Cline is also charged with illegal possession of methamphetamine after a prescription bottle containing the contraband was discovered inside her jacket pocket as she was being interviewed by police.

Palandro and Yakoweloff are also accused of illegal possession of a firearm without a license.

Pickard said in court documents Yakoweloff provided Palandro with the .38-caliber handgun prior to the shooting. Court documents filed with Conway allege Palandro shot the victim.

State police are continuing to investigate where Yakoweloff acquired the handgun.

Palandro denied shooting the victim as he was being led, shirtless, handcuffed and shackled, to a sheriff’s department van to be transported to the county prison. He is being held without bail.

Pickard reported that prior to the shooting, the five suspects believed a friend of the shooting victim had committed a theft against Palandro. They went looking for him in two vehicles in Export to retrieve “the stolen items,” which were not specified in court documents.

About 5:30 p.m., Pickard said the shooting victim and his friend were dropped off on foot on Kennedy Avenue and Italy Road in Export and walked to a nearby residence. When the pair left the residence, Pickard alleges the five suspects confronted them as they attempted to enter a parked vehicle.

The pair drove off and were followed by the suspects along Italy Road and Roosevelt Avenue. When the pair attempted to turn their vehicle around on Taft Avenue, Pickard said the suspects cordoned them in with their vehicles and an altercation ensued.

Police allege Palandro pulled out the handgun during the altercation and fired “two or three shots.”

Police reported the victim and his friend fled on foot but were picked up and driven to UPMC East hospital in Monroeville. The victim was transferred to the Pittsburgh facility.

Conway ordered Cline and Palandro held without bail pending a Sept. 3 preliminary hearing, deeming them a danger to the community. Yakoweloff was ordered to the Westmoreland County Juvenile Detention Center without bail pending a preliminary hearing.

Bronick and Grant were released on $100,000 unsecured bond each.