CLEARFIELD – A man accused of attempting to kill a Morrisdale man over how the man allegedly treated his mother is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday morning.
Shawn Gillen faces charges of criminal attempt to commit criminal homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and firearms not to be carried without a license.
Gillen had a preliminary hearing in December on the matter. The alleged incident occurred on Nov. 26. State trooper Svin Donaldson testified at the hearing that he arrived on the scene shortly after a call for shots fired came over the radio. Donaldson said that once on scene a cursory investigation yielded two bullet holes around the doorway. Donaldson then said that a call went out for a man waiving a gun on Second Street in Philipsburg, and that it was believed to be the same person.
When Donaldson arrived in Philipsburg, Gillen was already in custody.
Donaldson returned to the scene in Morrisdale on Nov. 27 and found three more spots where bullets had struck the house. Donaldson said that bullets struck the porch railing and a post, all in the vicinity of the door.
Donaldson spoke with Gillen and Mirandized him. Donaldson related that Gillen told him that the alleged victim deserved to die for what he did to his mother. When given the opportunity to provide a written statement, Donaldson said that Gillen wrote down “I will kill him.” He said that Gillen then scratched it out, and that he had Gillen initial it to verify that he made the markings. Donaldson said that Gillen told him he does not write very well, so they conducted a taped interview.
Gillen has been incarcerated in Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.