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New owner takes over Savo’s Pizza and Family Restaurant in Pittston Twp.

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A weekend of ‘firsts’ for the Penguins

<p>SHENANDOAH &#8212; Scott Sargent&#8217;s neighbor said the alleged Walmart shooter was known as a &#8220;bad ass&#8221; in his home area in Schuylkill County.</p><p>Sargent&#8217;s record bears that out &#8212; the nickname is well-earned. He has faced charges of burglary, theft and criminal trespass and others.</p><p>Police documents obtained Tuesday paint a clearer image of how Sargent allegedly began shooting an AR-15 rifle in the populated area near the Walmart in the Wilkes-Barre Township Marketplace on Saturday.</p><p>What is not clear, however, is how Sargent, 31, obtained the weapon.</p><p>The affidavit of probable cause indicates Sargent had a prior felony conviction for burglary, which would prohibit him from owning, possessing, using or transferring a firearm.</p><p>Sargent, 31, told Luzerne County investigators his home address is 149 W. Washington St., Shenandoah. A woman residing at that address said Tuesday she has lived in that apartment since September and does not know Sargent.</p><p>A Shenandoah Borough official said Sargent&#8217;s mother had lived in the building, according to registration records, but Mrs. Sargent died earlier this year. The manager said he thought Sargent lived in Minersville, about 15 miles away.</p><p>Minersville Borough police said Sargent did not reside there and that he was known to live on High Road in Cass Township just outside the borough. The half double block at 61 High Road is vacant and the man living at 59 High Road said the other side of the house has been vacant for weeks.</p><p><strong>Former neighbor</strong></p><p>Tom Benberth lives at 59 High Road with his girlfriend. He was sitting in a breezeway with his dog Tuesday morning.</p><p>Benberth said he only met Sargent once, but he had heard many stories about him as he was referred to as a &#8220;bad ass.&#8221; Benberth said he talked to Sargent in June or July, following Mrs. Sargent&#8217;s death.</p><p>&#8220;He told me he was cleaning out the house,&#8221; Benberth said. &#8220;I know all the copper tubing was removed from that side.&#8221;</p><p>Benberth said the previous owner of his unit, an older woman, told him she was moving out because of all &#8220;the activity&#8221; going on next door at the Sargent residence. Benberth said police had been called to the house several times.</p><p>A notice was posted on the front door at 61 High Road. Benberth said there were a lot more notices posted around the house, but Sargent removed them during the summer.</p><p>&#8220;He took them all down,&#8221; Benberth said of the notices. &#8220;He told me he would be back to cut the grass, but I haven&#8217;t seen him since.&#8221;</p><p>Benberth recognized Sargent on the TV news Saturday, the day police say Sargent fired a rifle into the air and into the parking lot at Walmart on Highland Park Boulevard around 1 p.m.</p><p>&#8220;I saw that report and I said to my girlfriend, &#8216;Hey we know that guy,&#8221;&#8217; Benberth said.</p><p>&#8220;It didn&#8217;t surprise me. I heard he was recently released from jail.&#8221;</p><p>Benberth said Sargent gave him his phone number when he left.</p><p>&#8220;I really don&#8217;t know him personally,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I just know of him.&#8221;</p><p>Benberth said the High Road neighborhood where he and his girlfriend have lived for three years is usually quiet.</p><p><strong>Arrest documents</p><p>According to Sargent&#8217;s arrest affidavit, the shooting Saturday in Wilkes-Barre Township took place at approximately 12:35 p.m. and multiple shots were fired from what state police said was a .223-caliber rifle, with Sargent initially firing into the air as he stood by a car.</p><p>Luzerne County 911 dispatch recordings during the incident contain audible gunshots.</p><p>According to the affidavit of probable cause:</p><p>&#8226; Police received a call at 12:39 p.m. Saturday for a report of an active shooter at the Walmart. Units from multiple municipal agencies, as well as state police, responded to the scene.</p><p>&#8226; Police say Sargent fired upon responding police cars as they arrived. A Wilkes-Barre Township police SUV was shot in the radiator, while a second shot struck the passenger side mirror. A third round struck and penetrated the upper portion of the vehicle&#8217;s windshield, and then went on to penetrate the driver&#8217;s side headrest before lodging in the rear of the vehicle. The affidavit indicates the vehicle was being driven by an officer at the time.</p><p>&#8226; Sargent allegedly continued to fire multiple shots in the direction of responding officers, which prompted police to return fire. Sargent then allegedly ran to the rear of the Walmart building while firing at police.</p><p>&#8226; Police chased Sargent to the rear of the building, where Sargent allegedly raised his rifle in the direction of police. A police officer then shot Sargent in the stomach, enabling police to place him under arrest.</p><p>Police say during the time frame of the gunfire, the Wilkes-Barre Township Marketplace was &#8220;heavily populated with consumer traffic.&#8221; Police also say when Sargent was allegedly shooting at police, he was firing in the direction of the heavily occupied parking lot.</p><p>During the scene examination, police say one shot allegedly fired by Sargent hit the vehicle of a customer loading his vehicle. Two other shots allegedly struck the doors of the auto center of Walmart entering the interior garage bay and hitting a lift control for servicing vehicles. Police say employees were in that area at the time of the shooting.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">According to Minersville Borough police, Scott Lee Sargent lived at this house at 61 High Road in Cass Township, Schuylkill County. A neighbor said police were called to the house many times. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Sargenthouse2.jpg</photo0><caption0>According to Minersville Borough police, Scott Lee Sargent lived at this house at 61 High Road in Cass Township, Schuylkill County. A neighbor said police were called to the house many times. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill O&#8217;Boyle | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Sargenthouse1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">This is the apartment at 149 W. Washington St., Shenandoah, that Scott Lee Sargent told Luzerne County investigators is his place of residence. A woman answering the door said she has lived there since September and does now know Sargent. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Sargenthouse1.jpg</photo1><caption1>This is the apartment at 149 W. Washington St., Shenandoah, that Scott Lee Sargent told Luzerne County investigators is his place of residence. A woman answering the door said she has lived there since September and does now know Sargent. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill O&#8217;Boyle | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_sargent-color4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sargent </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_sargent-color4.jpg</photo2><caption2>Sargent </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill O&#8217;Boyle | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle and</p><p>Travis Kellar</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle; reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Suspect described as ‘bad ass’ charged with shooting at cops in Wilkes-Barre Twp. parking lot