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WILKES-BARRE — A man shot another man who smashed windows on his BMW over $5 owed for marijuana on South Empire Street, police say.
A firearm was found in one of two bags filled with suspected marijuana on Saturday, according to police.
City police arrested Isaac Kalil Blyther, 24, on allegations he shot Jonathan Tinsley and assaulted Zsionte Owens with a knife in front of his residence at 85 S. Empire St. at about 10:30 a.m., according to court records.
Tinsley and Owens arrived at Blyther’s residence to confront him about $5 he owes for marijuana, court records say.
When Blyther refused to open his door, court records say, Tinsley used a baseball bat to smash windows on Blyther’s BMW.
Surveillance cameras recorded Tinsley smashing windows on Blyther’s vehicle that resulted in Blyther exiting his house, court records say.
Police in court records say Blyther approached Tinsley and Owens and lunged with a knife in his hand, slicing Owens’ hand.
Blyther then pulled a firearm from his waistband and allegedly fired a shot, court records say.
After police arrived at the scene, Owens showed officers text messages that involved $5 Blyther owed for marijuana, court records say.
As officers remained at the scene, two men acted suspiciously and placed two duffel bags in the trunk of a Chevrolet Cruz and fled the area passing through a red traffic signal, police said.
Police stopped the Chevrolet and found two duffel bags in the Chevrolet’s trunk.
A search warrant was served on the duffel bags that contained suspected marijuana, a .38-caliber revolver and four rounds of ammunition.
Blyther was arraigned by District Judge Alexandra Kokura Kravitz of Pittston on two counts of aggravated assault and a single count of firearms not to be carried without a license. He was jailed without bail at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.
No charges have been filed against Tinsley and Owens.
Owens drove Tinsley to Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre but Tinsley was later transferred to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township.