Officials say some charges are being dropped against a Blair County man accused of killing his neighbor earlier this month.
David Jenkins appeared in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing, two weeks after police say he shot and killed Zachary Smola.
Investigators say Jenkins allegedly turned himself in to state police for shooting and killing Smola, along Longview Drive in Allegheny Township, but his defense attorney says moving forward, Jenkins’ state of mind will play a role in the case.
Jenkins is facing charges for murder and aggravated assault after allegedly starting a fight with Smola before police say he allegedly went to his vehicle, grabbed an AK-47 and shot him in the head.
Prosecutors called just one witness to the stand during Thursday’s hearing as Allegheny Township police detective Richard Brant testified to what he saw at the scene.
Officials add that the decision was made to drop two charges against Jenkins, obstruction of evidence and strangulation, while Jenkins’ most serious charges are moving forward in court.
“We’ll work with both Pennsylvania state police and the Allegheny Township Police Department; we believe the case will be assigned to a judge at the court of common pleas,”
Defense attorney Thomas Dickey says it’s important to know his client did not mess with evidence and adds that Jenkins claims Smola committed a crime against him previously, which allegedly prompted the altercation on the night of the shooting.
“It’s important to show that my client never tampered any evidence, he never altered any evidence, he never did anything to conceal himself, in fact just the opposite,”
Jenkins’ formal arraignment hearing is scheduled for Nov. 20th.