BEAVER FALLS, Pa. — Eric Krassman Jr. is back behind bars tonight after appearing in court for a preliminary hearing today. Throughout the proceedings, Krassman remained largely silent, with his defense attorneys offering few statements. He did not provide any indication of his side in the case.
>> 16-year-old apprehended after shooting of another teen in Beaver Falls
During the hearing, 16-year-old Darell Love’s mother became emotional on the witness stand. She testified that she heard a gunshot before seeing Krassman run down the stairs, dropping a gun as he passed her. Behind him was her son, Love, holding his face and bleeding from a gunshot wound. That was the last time she saw him alive after medics took him to the hospital, where he died.
“My heart goes out to them” Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible told Channel 11. “Everybody is somebody’s child, but this was a 16-year-old.”
Krassman faces criminal homicide charges, including first-degree murder, third-degree murder, and involuntary manslaughter. He is also charged with two counts of firearm possession.
>> 16-year-old charged with homicide in shooting death of another teen in Beaver Falls
The shooting occurred in Love’s bedroom while he was on FaceTime with his girlfriend. She testified that she saw Krassman enter the room but heard no argument before the gunshot rang out. She then witnessed Love bleeding and saw Krassman run from the scene.
Channel 11 asked Bible if there was any indication the shooting could have been accidental.
“That’s something my detectives immediately looked into,” Bible said. “The firearm used in this case had two safeties—one near the chamber and another on the trigger. The first safety was off, and the trigger safety requires pressure. Anytime a loaded firearm with the safety off is pointed at someone’s head and fired, my initial reaction is that this was not an accident.”
Police said that both firearms Krassman possessed were stolen.
The judge held all charges and the next step is for a decertification hearing, where the state will argue Krassman should be tried as an adult while the defense will push for the case to be handled in the juvenile system.
“The outcome makes a big difference based on the penalties he could face,” said Bible.
This incident is just one of several violent crimes reported in Beaver County in recent weeks. However, the District Attorney’s Office stated there is no evidence linking these cases, which are being treated as isolated incidents.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
©2024 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
