MILLVALE, Pa. \u2014 A Millvale man is in jail after an alleged shotgun incident that forced school and public transit buses to reroute, police say.<\/p>\n
According to a criminal complaint, 911 dispatchers received seven calls Thursday afternoon reporting a man with a shotgun shot at a woman in the 500 block of North Avenue.<\/p>\n
Police say 32-year-old James Edward Casson pointed the weapon at a woman and fired a single round into the air around 3:20 p.m.<\/p>\n
A school bus was nearby at the time.<\/p>\n
Investigators say the woman went to the home to retrieve money she claimed she was owed by Casson\u2019s father.<\/p>\n
The woman told police she gave Casson\u2019s father $180 while he was in jail.<\/p>\n
Police say Casson became agitated when the woman asked if his father was home, went inside to get a shotgun, returned outside and threatened to kill her.<\/p>\n
Michelle Miller lives nearby and said she does not believe Casson intended to hurt anyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an incident and it just got out of control,\u201d Miller said. \u201cI don\u2019t think he would\u2019ve hurt anything. I think he was just trying to do a scare tactic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Police say the response forced the Shaler School District and Pittsburgh Regional Transit to temporarily reroute buses.<\/p>\n
Miller also tells Channel 11 this was not the first time Casson allegedly fired a weapon in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe only shoots it in the air. We\u2019ve had a conversation. I mean he doesn\u2019t like aim it at anybody or anything,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Court records show Casson previously pleaded guilty to felony arson in 2014 after setting a Shadyside home on fire. Three Pittsburgh firefighters were injured.<\/p>\n
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Injured firefighter talks about battling Shadyside blaze<\/a><\/p>\n Police seized five firearms from the Millvale home.<\/p>\n Miller says she is relieved he is no longer there.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just glad they are gone and we don\u2019t have to worry about anything else now that the guns are gone and he shouldn\u2019t get them back,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n Millvale police charged Casson with illegal possession of firearms and terroristic threats, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.<\/p>\n A judge denied Casson bail, citing concerns that he is a threat to the victim.<\/p>\n He is expected to appear in court later on January 22.<\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n