Police Make More Arrests in the Street Brawl Incident
Anthony Bove
As Kittanning Borough and Pennsylvania State Police join forces to investigate the death of James Sullivan, three more individuals have been jailed.
The three individuals are: Otilio Cosme, 43, of Ford City; Keith Allen Brison, 32, of Kittanning; and Anthony Michael Bove, 18, of Ford City.
According to information obtained from the State Police, it was determined that these three individuals were responsible for the death of James Sullivan on the early morning hours of Sunday, March 17, 2013 in Kittanning’s Fourth Ward.
Another person, Dennis Rosenberger – who was jailed on Tuesday, was responsible for rendering Sullivan unconscious by striking him in the head. After Sullivan collapsed to the ground from the punch, Cosme, Brison, and Bove either kicked or jumped on the victim while he was motionless. The trauma to Sullivan’s chest and abdomen was responsible for the victim’s death.
Otilio Cosme
Keith Brison
Charges on each of the three individuals were filed through the office of District Magisterial Judge James Owen on Wednesday, March 20. They include: Homicide and Aggravated Assault (both felonies), Simple Assault, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and Harassment.
All three individuals were committed to the Armstrong County Jail without bond.
For the latest events unfolding in this and other stories, listen to WTYM AM 1380 newscasts on the hour today.
Local News | KP NewsDesk March 21, 2013
By The Real Truth, March 21, 2013 @ 12:09 PM
Praise to the good work of the Kittanning Police Dept and the Kittanning State Police. Those who posted comments to the initial report about this disgraceful incident are right, a word of sympathy during a time of need and sorrow would go much further than trying to protect your run down establishment and hoping you do not get any lawsuits. The truth always prevails. One would think that the owners of the Wick City Saloon could have had a more positive attitude and asked how they could help — perhaps a benefit in Jimmy’s name, a special event, a Poker run — a way to help pay for his funeral costs and give some kind of restitution back to his grieving family and to the others who were injured and had to go to the hospital because of this same incident. There is another person who sustained a head injury and who was knocked out with a concussion and other injuries in the back lot of the Wick City Saloon. There was more than one person attacked. I am glad that justice is being served and pray for those who were injured in the attack and the wonderful person who passed away. Please keep the Sullivan family in your thoughts and prayers and also all of the law enforcement officers who are working on this difficult case.
By walrus, March 21, 2013 @ 3:43 PM
18 yrs. old at the bar at 2 a.m.???????
By heardenoughalready, March 21, 2013 @ 7:46 PM
The 18 year old, freshly out of jail not long ago, was probably there with his momma and step daddy. For those who have not put the puzzle completely together, Cosme is Bove’s step daddy. what a great way to give some adult guidance to a step son. Let’s get arrested for criminal homicide together, And to whoever called the Wick City Saloon a college bar, give me a break, It just so happens to be the best of the dive bars in Kittanning. this same Riff Raff who gathered in the street and watched a man be kicked and stomped to death frequent all of the other fine establishments in Kittanning. The owner should be ashamed of himself for defending his bar with stretched out facts instead showing compassion to the family. Perhaps he is a good person and doing this behind the scenes. all we can do is pray and be thankful these hateful people are behind bars where they can do no wrong. come to Worthington. I mean we have our problems with alleged corruption and ticket quotas, that explains a lot. I mean, who are we as citizens to believe two police officers over a mayor??? And a Occassional hostage situation, but we are not shooting people and kicking and stomping unconscious people to death in the streets. Thank goodness for our dry little town. These people involved in this crime are not your saintly church goers as others would want you to believe. But who am I to judge.
By mark, March 21, 2013 @ 8:03 PM
walrus, you need to get out.
4 more real proud parents.Takes a real tough guy to do this. Hope they all rot. P`sOS. And don`t you think there would have been 1 “Man” step up and say, “Hey, leave him alone!”
By jorn jensen, March 21, 2013 @ 9:49 PM
Seems to me that one responsible person with a gun could have stopped this murder, including even a policeman being that one responsible person, had there been police on-site. Once the unconscious Mr. Sullivan was on the ground and being kicked, the responsible person yells, “Stop, or I’ll shoot!” If they didn’t stop kicking Mr. Sullivan, then one shot to one knee of one kicker would have brought a lot of drunks to their sudden senses. The kicking would have stopped - people would have backed off and two people would be laying on the road - Mr. Sullivan, unconscious, and one kicker, screaming and holding his knee. Police and ambulances show up - the two ‘hurt’ guys are loaded in the ambulance and the shooter is loaded in the back of the police car. Shooter is taken to jail, or if a policeman, put on paid leave pending investigation, and calls his lawyer and then that process begins. Later, it would be determined that the responsible shooter acted as a good samaritan and may have saved Mr. Sullivan’s life if he acted soon enough.
Now, of course, the anti-gun liberals will go into a tailspin over such an idea. But, how would these anti-gun liberals have done anything to possibly save Mr. Sullivan’s life?
By gladtobegone, March 21, 2013 @ 10:23 PM
Walrus, the other two arrested for the murder are his stepfather and his uncle, this happened after his MOTHER was in a fight inside. The kid was very wrong for what he did, and needs to pay the price, but he obviously never stood a chance in life with a family like that.
By Get Real, March 21, 2013 @ 10:32 PM
Much thanks to the citizens of Kittanning and people like The Real Truth who was there from the day after this murder to point out the absolute injustice of the cowards not only who did this, but those at this bar who not only distanced themselves from this incident but were cowardly to not only stop it but also to protect those. Like walrus said an 18 year old at the bar?
Props to the State Police and especially the Kittanning Police department. In the end they came through and brought thier community and the family of Jimmy justice.
Finally to hear that this not only involved 4 cowards but that they were all related? It took 4 of these so called tough guys to confront and ambush Jimmy? Not one of them had the guts to face a man like Jimmy face to face. I hope all of these men get the chance to look themselves in the mirror behind bars for the rest of thier lives to think of what they did that night. No human deserves that.
By cancerfreeamerica, March 21, 2013 @ 10:44 PM
The bar needs closed. The broken bottles, fights, underaged drinking, syringes in the parking lot, idiots at 2 am, the DUIs, and now the death of one of the many idiots that go there. Enough is enough.
By kittanning, March 21, 2013 @ 11:25 PM
That was my question. Why was an 18 year old outside of the bar? Was he inside the bar also?
By scuba, March 22, 2013 @ 8:17 AM
sad story all around, all i have to say is i know for a fact that this bar owner is good friends with the local police chief. second like any bar in kittanning the people are low life, scum of the earth, as matter of fact did you know that over 50% of people in kittanning are on some kind of welfare progam, 20% are retired the other 27%plus have a job and work.
why is a 18 year old at a bar????? maybe he works there!!!! yeh right
Why wasn’t the police call for the ladies fighting in the bar!!!!!
were are those bounger at the bar?????
this all could have been avoided !!!!!!
By jerry6, March 22, 2013 @ 9:21 AM
Jensen: You are the only one on this board that brought up liberals and guns in regards to a man being killed. Why? No one wants your hand guns or your rifle, only assult weapons. You are a very disrespectful person to mention liberals and guns when talking about a man being killed. This just blows my mind.
By fotrabla, March 22, 2013 @ 10:12 AM
It appears that none of you bashing the Saloon go there. The owners are 3 of the nicest guys in Kittanning. They are all involved in the community. And as far as benefits, Wick City Saloon (Owners, Staff & Regulars) are some of the most giving people around. They do all kinds of charity events that benefit a lot of different families and organizations. I haven’t seen anywhere that said Cosme and Sullivan got into an altercation in the bar, only outside. And just so you know, Wick City did offer condolences publicly and I’m certain that the owners have extended their sympathy privately. Unless you know otherwise, you have no right to bash Chris.
By dalereese67, March 22, 2013 @ 11:13 AM
Jorn,
This was an unfortunate incident for the family as well as for the community. There is a time and place for gun debates, and this is not it.
Please show more class and some compassion for the family that just lost their loved one.
My thoughts go out to the family during this difficult time and I hope the individuals who did this receive an appropriate sentence for what they’ve done.
I also hope the bar does their part to make sure this has no chance of ever happening again. It should have been stopped there before it ever escalated to where it did.
By gladtobegone, March 22, 2013 @ 12:35 PM
It’s shocking this family hasn’t done this before. They are trouble, and should have been dealt with long ago, the town condones trash as an acceptable way of life.
By fed-up, March 22, 2013 @ 10:17 PM
this 18 year old kid, has caused nothing but trouble in this town for several years now. He is constantly in and out of placement ( because his so called mother, doesn’t want to deal with him ). Now that he is 18, maybe the police and the judicial system will finally step up and put him where he belongs with the other caged animals. Also our local police are frequent customers in Wick City Saloon,where were they when Jimmy was getting kicked and beat to death??? I remember when “BABES” was shut down for being a nuisance bar. Why is Wick City still open ???
By Flamingo1, March 23, 2013 @ 9:44 AM
@Jorn
Well first you need to find one responsible person. What you did have was 20-30 buzzed to inebriated folks, in poor light, tired, in the midst of chaos. A perfect place for someone to prevent a murder with a couple of good shots from the Glock to settle things down. Yup that makes sense.
By rushure11, March 23, 2013 @ 12:32 PM
WOW Jensen, well actually it doesn’t suprise me, you ALWAYS have all the answers to EVERYTHING, even when you know NOTHING at ALL about HOW to solve the problem. You sorta remind me of another individual that has recently surfaced as a one person problem solver….
By Get Real, March 24, 2013 @ 1:00 PM
Obviously the Wick City Saloon only helped in the investigation because they were worried about a wrongful death law suit. So anybody who thinks the bar “did the right thing” is sadly mistaken. They only did what was necessary to protect themselves. The bar owner and any witness who didn’t come forward is as cowardly as the 4 murderers.
By Darkstar, March 24, 2013 @ 5:20 PM
@fotralba…..
Wow. Only thing I saw was a big statement from the bar owner in the paper saying “IT WASN’T ME/US/MY BAR/MY PROPERTY/WE DIDN’T SEE A THING/DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING”
And they only offered condolences AFTER THE FACT. Anyone can see that. That bar is a scum hole. City counsel needs to shut it down permanently.
By steve, March 24, 2013 @ 8:20 PM
When this incident happened, I thought “I hope Jorn doesn’t start his gun control crap over this” and then I thought, “nah, even he wouldn’t be that big of a jerk. well, I was wrong.
not everything is right vs left you inconsiderate freak.
By jorn jensen, March 24, 2013 @ 10:35 PM
Okay you libs, I presented a way that might have saved James sullivan’s life, and then I challenged you with your way to have saved his life. None of you libs have posted anything with regard to saving James Sullivan’s life - you just chose to attack me and my idea - because you have none. Empty liberals.
Flamingo - ONE shot after fair warning. Come on, you were in the service.
Dale - Nice job on the condolences. Where’s your idea on how James Sullivan’s life could have been saved? The bar can’t stop this from happening again - they serve drinks up to a limit and then they typically shut them off - the bar can’t control a murderous mind. It should have been stopped by WHOM before it ever escalated to where it did? The bartender? How do you know if the bartender did or did not call the police?
rushure11 - Okay, so how would you have solved the problem? Propose your idea on possibly saving James Sullivan’s life.
By player24, March 25, 2013 @ 9:57 AM
Jorn this could be your rock bottom, go sit at mcdonalds every morning and talk politics with the coffee crew instead of a comment section of a murder article.
By wowza, March 25, 2013 @ 3:58 PM
wow, seriously folks?? don’t blame the bartenders/bar, don’t blame the bystanders, don’t blame the police and blah blah blah. Blame the evil, malicious criminals that needlessly took this man’s life…period
By dalereese67, March 25, 2013 @ 4:16 PM
Jorn- grow up. Are you really making fun of someone for sending their condolences to the family of a murdered man?
Who in their right mind would want to have a debate related to this? You’re disgusting.
Player24 has it right.. rock bottom.
By jorn jensen, March 25, 2013 @ 5:49 PM
wowza - Agree, hence my statement, “the bar can’t control a murderous mind.”
Thanks for the offer of your seat at McDonald’s player24, but I’ll pass on that. You keep it.
Dale, I complimented you on your condolences. What part of that did you misunderstand? So Dale, you don’t want to discuss or propose any ideas that could have saved James Sullivan’s life?
How about you player24 - don’t want to discuss any ideas that could have saved James Sullivan’s life?
By dalereese67, March 25, 2013 @ 10:05 PM
Jorn,
Out of respect for the family of the deceased I’m not getting into a debate here about it. They’re part of the community and most likely will see/have seen the article about their family member.
You have zero class. Grow up.
By jorn jensen, March 26, 2013 @ 9:16 PM
dalereese - Not looking for debate. I’ve asked you no less than 4 times for your thoughts/ideas that could have saved James Sullivan’s life and you just attack me - you won’t answer. So, you have nothing to offer? Correct?
What is so wrong with wanting to have had a murder avoided?