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HAZLE TWP. — A West Hazleton man was arraigned Wednesday for his alleged role in the pistol-whipping a 16-year-old boy in September.
Omar Alexis Vargas, 27, of West Green Street, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of terroristic threats, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. He was arraigned in Luzerne County Central Court and jailed for lack of $100,000 bail.
The teen suffered head and neck injuries during the incident, authorities say.
According to a criminal complaint:
A 16-year-old was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital — Hazleton for injuries he suffered in an assault by several people in the Humboldt Industrial Park near Hazleton on Sept. 14.
State police learned the boy was picked up by Vargas.
Vargas and two passengers questioned the boy about an assault that occurred the previous night as Vargas drove the boy to the industrial park.
Vargas and the two passengers exited the vehicle at one point and pistol-whipped the boy, who was also punched several times.
The suspect then fired three rounds from a handgun and threatened to kill the boy and his family if he went to authorities.