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Retired Pittsburgh police officer charged with gunning down friend will stand trial

PITTSBURGH — A retired Pittsburgh police officer will stand trial for fatally shooting his friend in a Bloomfield bar.

Kenneth Farnan, 50, of Lawrenceville waived his right to a preliminary hearing Friday. He is accused of shooting Shawn Evans, 56, on Sept. 8, at Condrin's Tavern on Torley Street in Bloomfield.

Defense attorney Bill Difenderfer said Farnan, who retired last week after 19 years on the force, waived his hearing before Judge Hugh McGough because Farnan contends he shot Evans in self-defense. Difenderfer said that's “something you do not present at a preliminary hearing.”

Police say Farnan and Evans were drunk when the shooting occurred. Farnan became upset when Evans hit him in the head for passing out and slumping over the tavern's bar.

Evans went to the restroom, returned and pushed Farnan. The two fell to the ground and struggled. Police said Farnan fired six shots, striking Evans multiple times.

Farnan's next court appearance, an arraignment, is set for Oct. 29. He will remain on electronic monitoring until then, Difenderfer said.

Farnan has been off-duty receiving workers compensation since 2010 because of an injury he suffered in a car accident.

Adam Brandolph is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at 412-391-0927 or abrandolph@tribweb.com