News

July 13, 2008

Charges in shooting uncertain

JEN MARCKINI jmarckini@timesleader.com

WEST HAZLETON – Charges have not been filed against a beer distributor employee who allegedly shot a co-worker on Friday.

Police said 40-year-old Alan Obert, of Hazleton, who works at T. Verrastro Beer Distributor, Inc., was shot in his right calf and had to be flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Obert was in stable condition after surgery on Saturday afternoon.

The shooting occurred just after 4 p.m. in the front office of the beer distributor at 126 N. Broad St., according to West Hazleton police Sgt. Brian Buglio.

The employee had a license to carry his .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun and was unloading his firearm when it hit the floor and went off, Buglio said.

His name has not been released pending the investigation.

“We’re not sure if we are going to charge him or not charge him,” Buglio said. Police still have to interview Obert, who is still recovering in the hospital, he said.

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