Local Men Charged with Homicide in Butler County

by Jonathan Weaver

A pair of local men spent the night in a regional prison after being accused of killing a Kittanning man early Friday morning.

Jacob Adams, 24 of Kittanning and McKinley Berry, 24 of Ford City, were both taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police troopers during the weekend and face homicide charges following the death of Jason McIntyre at about 3:15 AM Friday.

The men were all in Valencia (Adams Township), Butler County.

According to the report filed, the three met at a bar in the Kittanning area and Adams drove Berry and McIntyre to Valencia, parking in an area away from the Downieville Road residence with the intent to rob two tenants of marijuana and money. Berry and McIntyre walked to the home wearing hooded sweatshirts and gloves to conceal their identity and armed with a handgun while Adams stayed in the car.

Once arriving at the residence, Berry and McIntyre began forcing their way in and shooting at the victims. One resident, Daniel Oliverio, got a hand gun while another resident, Jeremy C. Hughes, used a shot gun to defend himself. Hughes was struck in the stomach and McIntyre was shot and died on the front steps. An autopsy revealed he died of a 12-gauge shotgun slug to the chest.

Berry retreated, returning to the car. Hughes, Oliverio and another person inside the home, Wade Brueckman of Connoquenessing, also fled, running past McIntyre’s body as it laid on the front steps. None of the individuals contacted police. Police said that neither Berry nor Adams attempted to contact the McIntyre family to inform them of his death upon their return to Armstrong County.

Adams – arraigned shortly before 10PM Friday – is charged with nine felony offenses, including criminal homicide, four counts of robbery or conspiracy and burglary.

Arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Kevin P. O’Donnell, Adams’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for the morning of February 2 in front of Magisterial District Judge Wayne D. Seibel.

Berry – arraigned by Judge O`Donnell Saturday evening – is charged with 10 offenses.

In addition to the nine felony offenses Adams is charged with, Berry – reportedly a construction laborer also faces a charge of misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person.

Berry’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for this morning.

Both men were held in jail on $1 million bond.

McIntyre will be viewed at the Kennedy and Blodgett Funeral Home from 2-4 and 7-9PM today.

Visitation will continue tomorrow at Harvest Community Church in East Franklin Township beginning at 10AM until the time of a funeral service at 11AM.