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WILKES-BARRE — A Nanticoke man who suffered a gunshot wound to his leg during a home invasion on Church Street Saturday night asked to buy a bottle of liquor before the shooting, according to court records.
City police said Jeremy Battle, 30, of South Market Street, was nearly shot two more times as he fled through the rear yard and climbed over a fence six feet high while being chased by the homeowner.
Battle was found by police at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital where he was being treated for the gunshot injury.
According to the criminal complaint obtained Monday:
Police responded to the Church Street home just before 10 p.m. for gunfire.
Those inside the home told police a man, identified as Battle, not known to them entered the rear kitchen door and asked to by a bottle of liquor. One person inside the home was cooking in the kitchen when Battle entered the residence.
When those inside the kitchen told Battle to get out, he pulled a pistol from his waistband and aimed it at a person in the kitchen.
Another person inside the house grabbed Battle’s arm to disarm him that initiated a struggle.
Police said a person inside the house fired a round from a .45-caliber pistol striking Battle in the leg.
Battle fled the home and ran through the rear yard and climbed over the fence. Two shots were fired at Battle as he fled the property.
Police said Battle was given a ride to General Hospital by Mariena Uravage.
Uravage told police she had only known Battle for two days and were having intimate relations for extended periods of time. She claimed Battle instructed her to drive to the area of Church Street where he exited her vehicle, the complaint says.
Uravage did not know why Battle needed a ride to Church Street but when he returned to her vehicle, Battle allegedly told her he had been shot and to drive him to a hospital.
Battle gave several versions of what happened, including he was “set up” by a woman who told him where he can buy a bottle of liquor, the complaint says.
Battle was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, criminal trespass and illegal possession of a firearm. He was arraigned by District Judge Thomas F. Malloy Sr. in Wilkes-Barre and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $150,000 bail.