WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — A man who police said threatened his estranged girlfriend at the John F. Kennedy Catholic Elementary School on Wednesday had his bail raised by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.
Police said Andrew Kirby threatened his estranged girlfriend in the school gymnasium during his child’s basketball practice.
Officials said the woman yelled for help and for someone to call 911, warning people that Kirby had a knife.
"And he also possessed a folding knife that he showed to his estranged girlfriend and made some threats,” said Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone.
When police arrived to the scene, they found Kirby with a knife and gun in his waistband.
He his bail was originally set at $20,000, but the deputy district attorney filed an emergency motion Friday to raise the bail to $500,000 in straight cash.
"We became aware of the case, chiefly because we understood that the allegations were so serious, looked at the bail and the victim was extremely scared and afraid,” Vittone said.
Washington County is sensitive to domestic violence and protecting women who feel threatened after the recent deaths of Tierne Ewing and Dalia Sabrae.
"We don't want another one of these cases. I just attended the funeral for Dalia, a very sad occasion. We do what we can to protect people, we try to get people to positions where they're safe," said Vittone.
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