Andy Close
WARREN, Pa. – The suspect accused of killing 47-year old Victor V. Vantassel appeared in court on Friday for his preliminary hearing.
(Haggar Brewer is led into the Jackson Courtroom at the Warren County Courthouse for his preliminary hearing on Friday morning. Photo by Andy Close.)
Haggar S. Brewer, 57, of Spring Creek Township, who was charged with criminal homicide last month in the shooting death of Vantassel, was held for court on third-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter charges.
Brewer’s and Vantassel’s residences were located next to each other on Cold Spring Rd. in Spring Creek Township.
Vantassel’s fiance, Brenda Cioffi, who lived with him, was the first to take the witness stand.
“I went outside, Victor was sleeping and he (Haggar) started yelling at me,” she said. “I went in the house and Victor asked what was going on. He went outside and they started fighting, and the next thing I heard was the gun go off.”
Cioffi said Brewer was yelling at her because she had been on Brewer’s property a couple of days prior to the shooting.
She went on to testify about the altercation.
“They were walking toward each other and next thing I know Victor is on the ground,” she said. “Steve (Haggar) pushed Victor, they started wrestling and that’s when I heard the gunshot.”
Cioffi took a cell phone out of Vantassel’s pocket and called 911.
Rob Kinnear, attorney for Brewer, pointed out that state police had been to the Vantassel residence the day before, detailing charges Vantassel brought against Cioffi, including in connection with a stabbing that occurred during a domestic dispute.
Jeffrey Dahl, a criminal investigator with the Pennsylvania State Police, Warren Barracks, testified that the death certificate from the coroner determined that Vantassel died by a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Dahl went on to say that Brewer also called 911 and said: “Someone attacked me in the yard and I shot them.”
Dahl described the gunshot as a “reaction,” and said that Brewer told him he routinely carries a gun to kill snakes on his property.
District Attorney Rob Greene acknowledged that he doesn’t believe there was premeditation, hence the third-degree charges instead of first-degree.
“I think he intended to shoot the victim and I think we can show that beyond a reasonable doubt,” Greene said.
District Judge Todd Woodin agreed.
Brewer’s next court appearance will be formal arraignment on May 20.
