Police: Ellport Man Charged with Discharging a Firearm that Struck a Residence

An Ellport man was charged with reckless endangerment for discharging a firearm in the direction of a residence.

After roughly a month of investigation, Ellwood City police charged Edward Charles Wymer, 52, with one count of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, a misdemeanor of the second degree. He was arraigned before Magistrate Jerry Cartwright on June 22.

Yet, part of the case remains a mystery. On Saturday, May 25, a bullet struck Amy Prine’s residence on Gartley Avenue in Ellport, shattering a front window. On June 4, Cortni Prine, Amy’s 18-year old daughter, was outside when she heard a bullet whizz past her ear. The bullet struck the porch railing.

Wymer confessed to the second shooting but it is unknown who is responsible for the first.

According to police reports, Ellwood officers cooperated with Wayne Township police in an investigation of Wayne Township residents across the Connoquenessing Creek. However, no suspects were found. Due to a contract between Ellwood City and Ellport boroughs, the Ellwood Police Department provides police protection to Ellport.

According to the criminal complaint, investigating officers determined the shot on June 4 came from the direction of Jamison Avenue in Ellport. Based on statements provided by neighbors, officers questioned Wymer, who had been cutting his neighbor’s grass on a ride mower. Wymer stated that he owned two guns, a .22 caliber rifle and a 9mm pistol. He said he had been shooting at groundhogs with the rifle while cutting grass. Officers informed Wymer that they were skeptical that someone would carry a rifle while on a ride-mower.

Later that day, Wymer called the police station and confessed to shooting the 9mm and identified the bullet recovered from the Prine residence as his. He denied knowledge of the first incident on May 25, and police have not identified the bullet as his.