Jury selected for Johnstown shooting trial

BY SANDRA K. REABUCK
The Tribune-Democrat

EBENSBURG May 08, 2008 11:12 pm

— A jury of seven men and five women was selected Thursday for the trial of a New York City man accused of shooting into a car and wounding three people and endangering an infant in Johnstown.
Kenneth Simington, 30, also known as “K-Bag,” is charged with four counts of attempted criminal homicide and related offenses.
Simington had been living at the Oakhurst Homes when he allegedly opened fire around 12:30 a.m. on a car parked in a lot near Edders Den on Sheridan Street.
He is accused of shooting seven times into the vehicle around 12:30 a.m. Jan. 9, 2007.
A motive for the shooting was not disclosed.
The trial will begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, with openings by the attorneys and then testimony from the witnesses.
Jurors will visit the scene of the shooting in the afternoon.
Assistant District Attorney Kelly Callihan, one of the prosecutors, said the three adult victims and several police officers are expected to testify.
Working with her on the case is Assistant District Attorney Eric Hochfeld.
Defense attorneys Timothy Sloan and Paul Eckenrode have listed 11 potential witnesses, including the defendant, but have not said whether any will be called to the stand.
Judge Gerard Long told the jurors that the trial is expected to last about 21/2 days.
Authorities said that the injuries were not life-threatening, although one person, Joseph Bailey, was shot in the head. Heather Ressler suffered a hand and leg wound and Shawn McKnight was shot in a finger, police said.
A child, then 1, was not hurt, it was reported.
Authorities said that after the shooting, Simington fled to New York City, where he was apprehended in March 2007 by federal authorities.