web1_Tyler-Austin-NYY2017217142759416.jpg

Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin suffers fracture in foot, out six weeks

web1_Travis-mug.jpg

Trio accused of robbing pizza delivery boy heading to county court

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A man accused of firing a semi-automatic rifle into the air in a crowded shopping center parking lot nearly two years ago before setting his sights on responding officers, one of whom shot the alleged gunman during a frenetic hail of gunfire, was scheduled Friday to stand trial in May.</p><p>Scott Lee Sargent, 32, of Shenandoah, was struck with a shotgun blast to the abdomen following the perilous exchange in the parking lot of Walmart in Wilkes-Barre Township on Oct. 17, 2015, much of which played out at midday in a bustling area between the retail store and an adjacent strip mall containing a state Wine &amp; Spirits store and a Chuck E. Cheese&#8217;s. No one else was injured.</p><p>During a brief hearing Friday, Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas set Sargent&#8217;s trial for May 22. The trial is expected to last about three days, Assistant District Attorney Jarrett Ferentino said.</p><p>The hearing comes on the heels of a motion Sargent filed Jan. 26 requesting removal of his court-appointed attorney, Joseph Yeager. In the motion, Sargent cites an &#8220;unrepairable&#8221; relationship with Yeager and seeks to have a judge replace Yeager with another attorney.</p><p>&#8220;The defendant believes that there is an irreconcilable personality conflict and difference of opinion in which this case should be litigated,&#8221; Sargent wrote.</p><p>Yeager did not immediately return a message left Friday seeking comment.</p><p>Lupas encouraged the pair to discuss their issues ahead of a status conference scheduled for next month.</p><p>According to police, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/489294/walmart-on-lockdown-due-to-reported-shooting" target="_blank">a call for an active shooter</a> came in just after noon on Oct. 17, 2015, a Saturday afternoon. Officers from multiple municipal agencies, as well as state police, responded to the scene to find Sargent waving and firing the rifle into the air, police said. When officers ordered him to drop the weapon, police said, he opened fire in their direction.</p><p>One township officer shielded fellow police by parking his SUV in the line of fire. The officer, Brian Bouton, ducked into the passenger seat as a barrage of bullets struck his windshield and driver-side headrest. Bouton, at a prior hearing, remarked the bullets would have &#8220;went right through my head&#8221; had he not taken cover.</p><p>The affidavit notes the parking lot behind police was &#8220;heavily populated with consumer traffic&#8221; as Sargent allegedly opened fire.</p><p>At the hearing, city Patrolman Alan Gribble recalled his version of the onslaught, noting he&#8217;d never forget the sound of bullets zipping past his face. As Sargent moved toward the rear of Walmart, Gribble managed to find a vantage point and fired a 12-gauge shotgun, he said, striking the alleged gunman in the abdomen before officers swarmed and disarmed him.</p><p>After Sargent was taken into custody, investigators examining the scene discovered one shot allegedly fired by Sargent hit a bystander&#8217;s vehicle. Two other shots allegedly struck the doors of the auto center of Walmart &#8212; where employees were present &#8212; entering the interior garage bay and hitting a lift control for servicing vehicles.</p><p>Sargent faces six counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, six counts of assault of a law enforcement officer, two counts of aggravated assault, 14 counts of reckless endangerment and one count each of illegal possession of a firearm and harassment.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Sargent-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sargent </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Sargent-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Sargent </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Trial date set for man charged with opening fire at police outside Walmart